Synthesis of Hierarchical SAPO‐5 & SAPO‐34 Materials by Post‐Synthetic Alkali Treatment and Their Enhanced Catalytic Activity in Transesterification
Divya Jadav, Rajib Bandyopadhyay, Mahuya Bandyopadhyay
Abstract
SAPO‐5 and SAPO‐34 materials were modified using post‐synthetic alkali treatment, which results in the formation of hierarchical SAPO‐5 and SAPO‐34 materials. To test the generation of mesoporosity, the modified materials were thoroughly characterized using XRD, FE‐SEM, TGA, ICP‐OES, and N 2 adsorption/desorption techniques. Alkali treated SAPO‐5 and SAPO‐34 materials were utilized for the model reaction triacetin transesterification, under optimized conditions by varying the catalyst amount and reaction time: 90 % triacetin conversion with 66 % methyl acetate yield was achieved using modified SAPO‐5 catalyst, whereas 68 % triacetin conversion with 37 % methyl acetate yield was achieved using modified SAPO‐34 catalyst. The alkali treated SAPO‐5 catalyst was stable up to the 4 th cycle.