Abstract
Abstract The alkaline earth metal Mg‐doped CoFe 2 O 4 composite ferrite samples Mg x Co 1‐x Fe 2 O 4 (x=0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1) were prepared using a sol‐gel auto‐combustion route. The as‐prepared samples were characterized by Raman spectrometry, X‐ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ICP–atomic emission spectroscopy and N 2 ‐physisorption. The catalytic activities of the samples were tested in the cyclopentene oxidation using hydrogen peroxide (30 %) as the oxidant. Compared with the pristine CoFe 2 O 4 and MgFe 2 O 4 , the Mg−Co composite ferrites showed much enhanced catalytic performances in the oxidation of cyclopentene with cyclopentene oxide as the main product. In particular, 95.2 % of cyclopentene conversion and 96.3 % of selectivity for cyclopentene oxide were achieved when Mg 0.5 Co 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 was used at 60 o C for 8 h in the oxidation reaction. The catalyst can be easily separated by applying magnetic field and exhibits great reusability.