Mdleleni, MasikanaMthethwa, Londiwe Yvonne2018-04-052024-05-092018-04-052024-05-092016https://hdl.handle.net/10566/14636Magister Scientiae - MSc (Chemistry)The effects of temperature, synthesis duration and silica source were studied to obtain suitable conditions for our laboratory experiment concerned with the synthesis of MCM-41 catalyst. The transformation of 1-hexene was studied using modified mesoporous MCM-41as a catalyst. Catalysts were synthesised by co-precipitation and wet impregnation methods doped with aluminium, chromium and iron. Tetraethylorthosilane (TEOS) was used as silica source due to its ability to show improved results than sodium silicate sources. Catalysts were synthesised with single metal doping for the production of Al-MCM-41, Cr-MCM-41 and Fe- MCM-41. Double doped metal catalysts were also synthesised for the production of Cr/Al- MCM-41 and Fe/Al-MCM-41. Catalysts were hydrothermally synthesised at 150 ?C for 72 h then calcined at 560 ?C after drying. XRD, SEM, FTIR spectroscopy, BET surface area measurents, ammonia-TPD and NMR spectroscopy were used for characterisation of synthesised materials to understand the structural frame and interior as well as exterior surface.enUniversity of the Western Cape