Versatile catalytic performance of magnetic and reusable mesoporous Co3(PO4)2 in benzyl alcohol oxidation and esterification with acetic acid
摘要
The continuous advancement in the research of metal phosphates has led to the synthesis of diverse porous compounds with enhanced catalytic properties. However, limited attention has been given to the investigation of magnetic mesoporous metal phosphates. Herein, a novel and facile synthesis method of magnetic mesoporous cobalt phosphate (Co3(PO4)2) as solid acid catalysts is presented. The optimized synthesis, utilizing hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template agent, yields a stable porous Co3(PO4)2 catalyst with confirmed magnetic and acid catalytic properties. Two probe reactions, liquid phase benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde and the esterification of acetic acid and benzyl alcohol to obtain benzyl acetate, were employed to assess the catalyst’s performance. Additionally, the application of an external magnetic field facilitated efficient catalyst separation and recovery, enhancing its reusability. The utilization of these novel magnetic mesoporous Co3(PO4)2 offers a promising avenue due to the simplicity of its preparation procedure and its magnetic properties which mitigates energy-intensive separation, reduces reaction costs, and aligns with the principles of green chemistry.