Diatomaceous earth as efficient matrix for construction of porphyrin heterogeneous catalysts

• Grant number: 16/04354-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Katia Jorge Ciuffi Pires
• Grantee: Marcus Vinicius do Prado
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main objective of this project is to prepare new materials with technological and environmental properties from diatomaceous earth and diatoms as arrays to support iron porphyrins, which are effective materials as catalysts in hydrocarbon oxidation reactions and ketones. The innovative nature of this project will be the use of diatoms (or diatomaceous earth) as silicon source after its functionalization by sol-gel process will be especially used for the functionalization of second generation iron porphyrins that can be used as efficient and selective catalysts for the oxidation hydrocarbons and ketones .Many reactions currently employed by industries need to be optimized, and this can be adjusted by studying not only the reaction conditions and the properties of heterogeneous catalysts. Two very important industrial reactions are: the reaction of Bayer Villiger (BV) and oxidation of cyclohexane, which serve as tools for the production of value-added products, they still need to be optimized to be applied with efficiency and selectivity in the chemical industry as the processes currently used in these reactions employ reagents or toxic solvents and not environmentally acceptable. For this purpose diatoms and diatom earth, abundant and cheap material can be very promising carriers for catalysts heterogeneity.