Synthesis, catalytic activity and chemical analysis method for CO-MCM-41 with high cobalt content

A series of Co-MCM-41 samples with different cobalt contents were synthesized using ascorbic acid as additive and characterized by XRD, low temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Cobalt species in/ out of the framework of Co-MCM-41 were extracted by dilute sulfuric acid/concentrated sulfuric acid and determined by chemical analysis methods, respectively. The Co species contents were also estimated by H₂-TPR and ICP techniques. The addition of the reductant can improve the orderliness of mesoporous structure of Co-MCM-41s and greatly increase their catalytic activity for the hydroxylation of benzene to phenol.