MoO3 Supported on Ordered Mesoporous Zirconium Oxophosphate: an Efficient and Reusability Solid Acid Catalyst for Alkylation and Esterification

A series of molybdenum oxide supported on ordered mesoporous zirconium oxophosphate (MoO3/MZrPO) materials with different MoO3 loadings (0-20 wt%) and calcination temperatures (500-900 degrees C) have been designed, synthesized and employed as solid acid catalysts in alkylation and esterification. The XRD, TG-DSC, H-2-TPR, N-2-physisorption and TEM characterizations were taken to investigate the structural properties and states of introduced MoO3 species. The influence of MoO3 loadings and calcination temperatures in catalytic performance was detailedly investigated and optimal catalytic activity was reached at 10 wt% MoO3 loadings and treated at 700 degrees C. Moreover, MoO3/M-ZrPO catalysts exhibited outstanding catalytic performance in Friedel-Crafts alkylation of different aromatic compounds and esterification of levulinic acid with 1-butanol. Furthermore, it was noteworthy that the catalyst had superior reusability and no noticeable declines were observed in catalytic performance even after seven runs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.