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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Gold Intercalated in the Walls of Mesoporous Silica
Published on: July 9, 2015
Mechanistic study into the direct epoxidation of propene over gold/titania catalysts
T Alexander Nijhuis1, Tom Visser, Bert M Weckhuysen
1Department for Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Sorbonnelaan 16, 3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands. t.a.nijhuis@chem.uu.nl
Abstract:
The epoxidation of propene over gold/titania based catalysts was investigated using different techniques. Infrared spectroscopic information showed that one key step in the reaction mechanism is a reaction catalyzed by gold between titania surface groups and propene. In this reaction step, a bidentate propoxy species is formed on titania. This species adsorbs strongly on the catalyst, and it is the same species which is formed when propene oxide adsorbs on titania. Gravimetrical adsorption experiments and catalytic tests show that product adsorption and desorption are important factors determining the catalytic activity and the catalyst stability. By combining the information from different techniques, a kinetic mechanism is proposed.
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