Two-dimensional Organic-Inorganic Ti-MWW as Regenerable Catalyst for Fixed-bed Propylene Epoxidation

doi:10.1007/s40242-026-5185-2

Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1): 84-93.doi: 10.1007/s40242-026-5185-2

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Two-dimensional Organic-Inorganic Ti-MWW as Regenerable Catalyst for Fixed-bed Propylene Epoxidation

GONG Liangliang¹, GONG Xianchen¹, YIN Jinpeng¹, LI Xintong¹, WU Peng^1,2, XU Hao^1,2

1. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Molecular & Process Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China;
2. Institute of Eco-Chongming, Shanghai 202162, P. R. China

Received:2025-08-31 Online:2026-02-01 Published:2026-01-28
Contact: XU Hao,E-mail:hxu@chem.ecnu.edu.cn E-mail:hxu@chem.ecnu.edu.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by the Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (Nos. 2021YFA1501401, 2023YFB3810602) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 22222201, 22472060).

Abstract

Abstract: The direct epoxidation of propylene to propylene oxide with hydrogen peroxide, known as the HPPO process, is a highly efficient and eco-friendly route for propylene oxide production. In the present study, the three-dimensional (3D) MWW-type titanosilicate Ti-MWW in shaped form was reconstructed to a 2D organic-inorganic hybrid material through the hydrothermal treatment of piperidine (PI) solution, which serves as a highly active catalyst for the fixed-bed HPPO process. The PI hydrothermal treatment induced chemical modifications on the Ti active centers, fabricating an open hexacoordinated Ti species [Ti(OSi)₂(OH)₂(H₂O)PI], which significantly enhanced the catalytic activity. The solvent effect was also altered after the PI hydrothermal treatment, especially for methanol. In the continuous fixed-bed HPPO reaction, this 2D organic-inorganic Ti-MWW catalyst (RS-Ti-MWW) exhibited exceptional stability, achieving a lifetime of 730 h in MeCN and 216 h in MeOH, with PO selectivity exceeding 99.6% and H₂O₂ utilization above 95%. RS-TiMWW can be regenerated through calcination and the subsequent hydrothermal treatment of PI solution, and the regenerated sample remains stable for up to 730 h of continuous operation, demonstrating its strong potential for industrial application.

Key words: Ti-MWW zeolite, HPPO (propylene to propylene oxide with hydrogen peroxide) process, Organic-inorganic material, Reconstruction, Regeneration

GONG Liangliang, GONG Xianchen, YIN Jinpeng, LI Xintong, WU Peng, XU Hao. Two-dimensional Organic-Inorganic Ti-MWW as Regenerable Catalyst for Fixed-bed Propylene Epoxidation[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2026, 42(1): 84-93.

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Two-dimensional Organic-Inorganic Ti-MWW as Regenerable Catalyst for Fixed-bed Propylene Epoxidation

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