Oxidation of alkane using Pt/Eu2O3/TiO2/SiO2 catalyst with O2 and H2 in acetic acid under mild conditions

A new solid catalyst of Pt/Eu2O3/TiO2/SiO2 for oxidation of alkane was developed. Oxidation of adamantane using the multi-components supported catalyst with O2 and H2 was studied in acetic acid at 313 K. Several multi-components supported catalysts were prepared and tested the oxidation activity. It is found that loading order of Eu2O3, TiO2 and Pt on the SiO2 support strongly affected the oxidation catalysis. The active catalysts model was proposed from TEM-EDS analysis that very small Pt particles well dispersed on amorphous Eu2O3 and TiO2 on the SiO2 support. Eu and Ti oxides concertedly activated O2 with electrons supplied from H2 on Pt, and active oxygen species efficiently oxidized adamantane and other alkanes to oxygenated compounds. Active oxygen species could not be identified but its reactivity was studied. It showed radical nature for oxidation of alkanes and a cleavage of C–H bond was the rate-determining step during the oxidation.