Magnetically Recoverable WO3/Fe3O4 Catalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Styrene to Benzaldehyde

A magnetically recoverable catalyst, WO₃/Fe₃O₄, was successfully synthesized via a coprecipitation and calcination method and applied for the selective oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde. Structural and surface characterizations (XRD, XRF, SEM, TEM, BET, VSM, and XPS) confirmed the successful integration of both components, mesoporosity, strong magnetic properties, and the presence of W⁶⁺ and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ species. Catalytic studies identified optimal conditions: 33 wt % WO₃ loading, 40 mg catalyst, 10 equiv H₂O₂, 70 °C, and 24 h, resulting in a styrene conversion of 74.21% and a benzaldehyde selectivity of 82.10%. The catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining high activity and selectivity across five cycles. These findings highlight WO₃/Fe₃O₄ as a promising, cost-effective, and easily recoverable catalyst for sustainable industrial oxidation processes.