In this paper, highly dispersed Mn-KIT-6 catalysts were prepared via a simple incipient wetness co-impregnation route by casting furfurylalcohol (FA) solution of manganese(III) acetylacetonate, which were used as carbon and Mn sources, respectively, into the channels of KIT-6, followed by the subsequent removal of the carbon resulted from carbonized FA. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption-desorption, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)|inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), transmission electron microscope (TEM), temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that Mn species were highly dispersed onto the pore surface of KIT-6 with the well maintenance of the highly ordered meso-structure of KIT-6. The catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity in the etherification of N-butanol and acetic acid, with the yield of butyl acetate as high as 97% after 4 h reaction. The reusability and stability were demonstrated with the high activity after 5 runs.

Key words: manganese oxide, KIT-6, incipient wetness co-impregnation, high dispersion, etherification