Screening of different zeolite-based catalysts for gas-phase selective photooxidation of propan-2-ol

In the present piece of research photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and V2O5 (as measured for gas-phase selective photoxidation of propan-2-ol) is substantially improved through their sol–gel synthesis on USY zeolites. The decrease in the crystallite size of TiO2 (anatase) and V2O5 thus exhibiting the so-called quantum size effect (as determined by XRD and UV–vis spectroscopies, respectively) is to account for that. In the case of vanadium, the use of zeolites means a decrease in selectivity to acetone whereas no noticeable change is observed for titanium. Subsequent photodeposition of platinum on the Ti- and V-containing zeolites results in a sharp increase in molar conversion, low or negligible deactivation with a time-on-stream of 5 h and significant increase in selectivity to acetone which was in the range 90–96%.