Effect of silica source on the synthesis, property and catalytic performance of Sn-Beta zeolite

Sn-Beta zeolite is a promising heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst. Hydrothermal synthesis of Sn-Beta(TEOS) using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as silica source is a classical method. However, the hydrolysis of TEOS generates considerable ethanol, which is unfavorable for scalable production of Sn-Beta. Herein, cheap fumed silica and silica sol were used as Si sources to synthesize Sn-Beta and compared with that synthesized from TEOS. The crystalline phase, morphology, physicochemical properties, and the state of Sn were characterized. It was found that Sn-Beta can be successfully prepared with fumed silica and silica sol as well as TEOS as silica source. Sn was introduced into the framework of these samples. Sn-Beta synthesized from fumed silica (Sn-Beta(FS)) and silica sol (Sn-Beta(Sol)) had similar crystallization behavior and full crystallization time as well as morphology, crystal size with that from TEOS. Sn-Beta(Sol) has less silanols and lowest ratio of open/closed tin site among these samples. It exhibited higher catalytic activity for the conversion of glucose to methyl lactate and lower catalytic activity for the isomerization of glucose as compared with the other two samples. Sn-Beta(FS) showed similar catalytic performance in the studied reactions with Sn-Beta(TEOS). [Display omitted] •Sn-Beta can be successfully prepared with fumed silica and silica sol as well as tetraethyl orthosilicate.•Similar crystallization behavior was observed for these silica sources.•Sn-Beta from sililca sol has less silanols and low ratio of open/closed tin site.