وحید مهدوی

Manganese oxide supported on mesoporous silica SBA-15 catalyst (Mn-SBA-15) was tested with Mn contents in the range of 0.8e23 wt%. Samples were prepared by the controlled grafting process of atomic layer deposition (ALD). Other sample was prepared for comparisons by the wet impregnation method. These samples were characterized by the techniques of ICP, XRD, SEM, Raman, FT-IR spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance UVeVis, TGA-DSC, and N2 absorptionedesorption surface area measurement. Results indicated that anchored manganese oxide particles have been successfully synthesized over the surface of SBA-15. These samples contained Red-Ox ion pairs of Mn2þ and Mn3þ highly dispersed on the mesoporous silica surface. The impregnated sample exhibited lower surface area and contained Red-Ox ion pairs of Mn3þ and Mn4þ more aggregated particles on the SBA-15 surface. Results determined Mn-SBA-15 as an efficient and selective catalyst for oxidation of benzyl alcohol with tert-butylhydroperoxide in liquid phase. In accordance with expectations, there was a negligible amount of leaching of immobilized manganese oxide from the support during the reaction, because of strong surface interaction between manganese oxide and hydroxyls groups. The influences of reaction temperature, reaction time, solvent, TBHP/benzyl alcohol molar ratio, amount of catalyst and reusability