Graphene Oxide as Support for the Immobilization of Phosphotungstic Acid: Application in the Selective Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol

Graphene oxide functionalized with gama- aminopropyltriethoxysilane, is used as support for the immobilization of homogeneous heteropoly phosphotung- stic acid. It is synthesized and characterized by SEM, XPS, XRD, 31 P NMR and Raman. The effects of catalyst parameters and reaction conditions on the oxidation reac- tion of benzyl alcohol are systematically investigated. Under optimal conditions, the catalyst exhibit remarkably enhanced catalytic activity (conversion 76 % and selec- tivity 99 %). And the catalyst could be separated conve- niently. Moreover, the loss of PW12O40 3- anion from the support under the reaction conditions is responsible for the deactivation of the catalyst.