Facile synthesis of HPW@MOF-199 embedded in SBA-15 functionalized with -COOH groups as a steady catalyst for the esterification reaction

In this work, we successfully synthesized a novel composite ([email protected]/SBA-15C, PMS-15C) in which MOF-199 encapsulated HPW catalyst (named [email protected]) was confined in SBA-15C, which is the carboxy-functionalized SBA-15. Physicochemical properties of the composites PMS-15C were systemically characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, wide-angle and low-angle XRD, XPS, FT-IR, SEM, and TEM. The results exhibited that [email protected] had been successfully synthesized and embedded into the SBA-15C pores by COOH on the surface of SBA-15C. Meanwhile, the composites PMS-15C exhibited high activity and excellent reuse properties in the esterification reaction of acetic acid and ethanol, and no evidence of aggregation, leaching, or inactivation of [email protected] during repeated use. The good dispersion of HPW within the MOF-199 cage and the interaction between [email protected] and SBA-15C may be responsible for the good catalytic activity as well as the high stability of PMS-15C.