Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II) and Co(II) encapsulated metal complexes in zeolite-Y for the oxidation of phenol and benzene

Copper (II) and Cobalt (II) metal complexes of phlantocyamine was effectively encapsulated into the super cages of Zeolite-Y using the flexible ligand method and H2O2 as the oxidant. The characterization of the synthesized encapsulated catalysts was carried out using the various physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods such as the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermogravimetric/Differential Analysis (TGA/DTG), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder Diffractometer (XRD) and CHNS Analyser. All the characterization techniques used suggest and confirm the existence of the metal complexes encapsulated inside the super cavities of the Zeolite-Y. The prepared catalyst was used in the oxidation of phenol and benzene which gave an excellent result. There was an increase in the catalytic activity and stability of the catalysts as a result of encapsulation. The prepared encapsulated metal complexes were recovered by vacuum filtration and was reused three time with almost no change in its catalytic activity suggesting the eco-friendly nature of the prepared encapsulated metal complex catalysts.