LAUSR

Abstract Mixed manganese iron oxides (Mn/Fe/O) as heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by hydrothermal treatment and citrate methods to be tested in the oxidation of p -xylene (PX) using as oxidation agent molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and tert -butyl hydroperoxide. Preparation of mixed Mn Fe oxide by the citrate method releases materials with smaller particle size and lower degree of crystallinity as compared with the hydrothermal one, which further leads to a higher activity toward the oxidation of PX. A conversion of PX of 98% and a yield in p -toluic acid of 93% were obtained in the presence of Mn/Fe/O prepared by the citrate method using tert -butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidizing agent.