Optimization of reaction conditions in selective oxidation of styrene over fine crystallite spinel-type CaFe2O4 complex oxide catalyst

Abstract The CaFe 2 O 4 spinel-type catalyst was synthesized by citrate gel method and well characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The crystallization temperature of the spinel particle prepared by citrate gel method was 600 °C which was lower than that of ferrite prepared by other methods. CaFe 2 O 4 catalysts prepared by citrate gel method show better activity for styrene oxidation in the presence of dilute H 2 O 2 (30%) as an oxidizing agent. In this reaction the oxidative cleavage of carbon–carbon double bond of styrene takes place selectively with 38 ± 2 mol% conversion. The major product of the reaction is benzaldehyde up to 91 ± 2 mol% and minor product phenyl acetaldehyde up to 9 ± 2 mol%, respectively. The products obtained in the styrene oxidation reaction were analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. The influence of the catalyst, reaction time, temperature, amount of catalyst, styrene/H 2 O 2 molar ratio and solvents on the conversion and product distribution were studied.