Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of saponites and their use as oxidation catalysts

Saponites containing divalent Mg, Ni, or Fe as octahedral cations and trivalent Al and Fe substituting Si in the tetrahedral sheet were synthesized using microwave radiation. Saponite with a high specific surface area was obtained in all the syntheses, although Fe-Al saponite crystallized was impurified by Fe2O3 and analcime. The catalytic activity of the solids for the epoxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene by hydrogen peroxide was tested, the solids obtained being highly active (conversion up to 8.8%, and 100% selectivity to the epoxide).