The Application of Clinoptilolite as the Green Catalyst in the Solvent-Free Oxidation of alpha-Pinene with Oxygen

In this work, we present the catalytic application of the naturally occurring zeolite, clinoptilolite, in the oxidation of alpha-pinene, a natural terpene compound. Clinoptilolites with different average particle sizes, designated as (in mu m) clin_1 (20), clin_2 (50), clin_3 (200), and clin_4 (500-1000), were used as the green catalysts in the solvent-free oxidation of alpha-pinene with oxygen. Prior to their application in catalytic tests, the catalysts were characterized by the following methods: nitrogen sorption at 77 K, EDXRF, XRD, SEM, UV-Vis, and FTIR. The effects of the temperature, amount of the catalyst, and reaction time on the product's selectivity and alpha-pinene conversion were determined. At the optimal conditions (a temperature of 100 degrees C, catalyst content (clin_4) in the reaction mixture of 0.05 wt%, and 210 min reaction time), the following compounds were obtained as the main products: ff-pinene oxide (selectivity 29 mol%), verbenol (selectivity 17 mol%), and verbenone (selectivity 13 mol%). The conversion of alpha-pinene under these conditions amounted to 35 mol%. Additionally, the kinetic modeling of alpha-pinene oxidation over the most active catalyst (clin_4) was performed. The proposed method of oxidation is environmentally safe because it does not require the separation of products from the solvent. In addition, this method allows for managing the biomass in the form of turpentine, which is the main source of alpha-pinene. The catalytic application of clinoptilolite in the oxidation of alpha-pinene has not yet been reported in the literature.