Catalytic activity of ratio-dependent SBA-15 supported zirconia catalysts for highly selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and environmental pollutant heavy metal ions detection

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2019-01, Vol.1176, p.650-661
• Main Authors: Tamizhdurai, P., Sakthinathan, Subramanian, Santhana Krishnan, P., Ramesh, A., Mangesh, V.L., Abilarasu, A., Narayanan, S., Shanthi, K., Chiu, Te-Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzyl alcohol; Electrocatalysis; Heavy metal ions; Hydrothermal synthesis; Oxidation; SBA-15/ZrO2
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2018.09.007

Zirconium incorporated mesoporous SBA-15 silica with Si/Zr ratios of 10, 20, 30 and 40 have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The prepared mesoporous materials were characterized by suitable physical and chemical characterization technique. Besides, the catalytic activity of the prepared SBA-15/ZrO2 (10–40%) catalyst was used for benzyl alcohol oxidation with tertiary-butyl hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant at 90 °C. The prepared SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) catalyst is to facilitate the higher conversion and selectivity. Moreover, the catalyst was regained and reused many times without significant loss in catalytic activity. Furthermore, the SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) catalyst modified GCE electrode was used for the determination of environmentally hazardous pollutant metal ions such as Cd2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+. Besides, the proposed modified sensor exhibited excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and repeatability. Thus, the GCE/SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) modified electrode as a suitable electrode material for rapid monitoring of these heavy metal ions from the environmental pollutant water samples. Eventually accepted, the SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) can be regarded as an effective catalyst to enhance the catalytic activity towards the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and heavy metal ions detection. TOC Graphic, SBA-15 supported zirconia (ZrO2) catalysts for highly selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and heavy metal ions detection. [Display omitted] •Zirconium substituted mesoporous SBA-15 molecular silica with different Si/Zr ratios of 10, 20, 30 & 40% have been successfully synthesized by simple hydrothermal method.•The catalytic activity of the SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) samples were using benzyl alcohol converted in to benzaldehyde at 90 °C with higher conversion and selectivity.•The used SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) catalyst was reused and regain several times without significant loss in activity.•The GCE/SBA-15/ZrO2 (30%) modified electrode was used for the selective detection of environmentally pollutant metal ions such as Cd2+, Cu2+ and Hg2+ with excellent selectivity, reproducibility and repeatability.