Engineering gold impregnated uncalcined TS‑1 to boost catalytic formation of propylene oxide

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2022-12, Vol.319, p.121837, Article 121837
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zhihua, Tang, Yanqiang, Du, Wei, Xu, Jialun, Wang, Qianhong, Song, Nan, Qian, Gang, Duan, Xuezhi, Zhou, Xinggui
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Gold catalyst; Impregnation method; Propylene epoxidation; Sulphur promoter
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121837

Design and fabrication of highly efficient Au-based catalysts using simple impregnation method have been long sought-after. Herein, we report an efficient strategy to impregnate Au species onto uncalcined TS-1 using a sulphur-containing gold precursor, i.e., sodium dithiosulfatoaurate, for propylene epoxidation with H2 and O2 to produce propylene oxide (PO). Such catalyst delivers superior activity than the referenced catalyst prepared by impregnation using (sodium) aurichloride precursor and the catalyst prepared by deposition-precipitant urea (DPU) method. The catalyst structure-performance relationship is established by using multiple microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. The sulphur species contained in the Au precursor can serve as protecting-ligands, thus facilitating the formation of highly dispersed Au species on uncalcined TS-1. This finding may also provide a way for the preparation of highly efficient impregnated Au-based catalysts for other reactions. [Display omitted] •Gold nanoparticles can be immobilized on uncalcined TS-1 by impregnating a chloride-free sulphur-containing gold precursor.•Sulphur species containing in gold precursor facilitate the formation of highly dispersed Au nanoparticles.•The developed catalyst exhibits efficient and stable PO performance.