Pillared clays formed by intercalation of transition metal oxides, capable of preventing the collapse of the structure, gives micro- and mesoporous materials with different catalytic activities and stabilities. Chromium and iron pillared clays were tested as catalysts in the gas phase ciclohexane oxidation. The results showed that the catalysts are active and selective in the oxidation reaction to produce ciclohexanone and ciclohexanol, but special attention must be done to the surface acidity of this materials, responsible by ciclohexene formation.
redox catalyst; alcane oxidation; pillared clays; mesoporous molecular sieves
