Seed-assisted synthesis of TS-1 crystals containing Al with high catalytic performances in cyclohexanone ammoximation

In this study, titanium silicalite (TS-1) crystals containing Al were synthesized using aluminosilicate MFI zeolites as seeds in a tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPAB)–ethanolamine (EA) system. The TS-1 containing Al possessed large size, large L(b) value and higher catalytic activity in cyclohexanone ammoximation. Larger L(b) value would endow the TS-1 crystals with better mechanical strength and erosion resistance. The introduction of an Al atom into the TS-1 crystals resulted in the production of more acid sites and a bit strong Brönsted acid sites; these acid sites were more favorable to the catalytic performances in cyclohexanone ammoximation.