Immobilization of iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine on MCF-NH2 and MCM-41 mesoporous silicas

Abstract

Trace organic micropollutants have adverse effects on human health and ecosystem at low concentrations. In this study, feasibility of new catalysts for oxidation of organic micropollutants was investigated. Iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine (FeTsPc) has been immobilized on the surface of functionalized MCF (mesocellular silica form)-NH2 and MCM-41 mesoporous silicas by means of chemical bonding to ammosilane groups. MCF, prepared by precipitation from a micellar solution, consisted of unit cells which had internal void (∼20 nm) and pores (∼11 nm). NH 2-functional groups were added to the surface of MCF and MCM-41 using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). 1-ethyl-3-(3'dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (WSC) was used as a coupling agent. N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) was added during the reaction to improve the efficiency of amination. The prepared materials, FeTsPc/NH2-MCF and FeTsPc/NH2-MCM-41, were characterized by UV-DRS (diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy) and FT-IR. Bisphenol-A (BPA) was chosen as a model micropollutant. The catalytic activities of the supported Fe-TsPc were examined by the oxidation of BPA in the presence of hydroperoxide. The amount of immobilized FeTsPc and the specific reactivity were also analyzed to provide quantitative evaluation of the catalysts. The results indicated that the FeTsPc/NH2-MCM-41 showed higher activity and durability in the liquid-phase oxidation of BPA under mild condition compared with the FeTsPc/NH2-MCF and unsupported catalyst. © (2011) Trans Tech Publications.