Mukhamad Nurhadi, Jon Efendi, Lee Siew Ling, Teuku Meurah Indra Mahli, Ho Chin Siong, Lai Sin Yuan, Sheela Chandren, Hadi Nur
Titanium dioxide supported sulfonated low rank coal catalyst possesses high catalytic activity in liquid phase oxidation of styrene with aqueous hydrogen peroxide at room temperature. The catalysts were prepared by sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid and impregnation of titanium dioxide (500-2500 μmol). The effect of titanium dioxide impregnation and calcinations on the catalysts were studied by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, BET surface area, field emission scanning electron microscopy and hydrophobicity measurement. The catalytic activity of the catalysts in the oxidation of styrene by aqueous H2O2 without calcination increased when the amount of titanium dioxide increased. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity of the catalyst calcined at 500°C for 2 h was lower than before calcination. It is suggested that the agglomeration of titanium dioxide and hydrophobicity play important role in the catalytic activity of titanium dioxide-supported sulfonated low rank coal in the oxidation of styrene with aqueous H2O2. © 2014 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved.
Ibnu Sina Institute for Fundamental Science Studies, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Education, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, 75119, East Kalimantan, Kampus Gunung Kelua, Indonesia; Department of Chemistry, Universitas Negeri Padang, Air Tawar, Padang 25131, Jln. Prof. Dr. Hamka, Indonesia; Low Carbon Asia Research Center, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Department of Physics, Institut Sains dan Teknologi Nasional, Jagakarsa, Jakarta Selatan 12640, Jl. Moh. Kahfi II, Indonesia
