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Friday, 2nd October 2009 (4913 views)

Gold clusters have been used by scientists in Japan to develop a new catalyst that could lead to an environmentally-friendly method of producing a chemical that is a key component in polyurethane plastics used in varnishes, glues, tyres and furniture.

News site Physorg reports that propylene oxide is traditionally made from propylene in a process that uses chorine gas as an oxidising agent.

This method produces "undesired by-products" and toxic chlorinated organic compounds.

Finding an environmentally-friendly oxidisation process has long been considered the "holy grail" of catalyst research, the site noted.

A team led by Professor Masatake Haruta of Tokyo Metropolitan University has moved a step closer to achieving this aim by using gold clusters less than two nanometres in size that are deposited on a silicalite support containing titanium.

The clusters, which differ from nanoparticles in that they have a uniform structure, convert oxygen and water into "hydroperoxide species", Professor Haruta said.

When transferred to the titanium centres, the resulting titanium hydroperoxide species act as "reaction partners" for the propylene, producing propylene oxide.

Professor Haruta added that although the quantities produced are not yet sufficient for industrial needs, the research represents an "important milestone" on the road to an environmentally-friendly synthesis for propylene oxide.

 

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