Liquid Phase Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Alcohols Employing Nanoparticles of Zirconia Supported on Nickel Manganese Oxide: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Evaluation

Abstract

Zirconia nanoparticles supported on nickel manganese mixed oxide were synthesized by co-precipitation method. The catalytic properties of these materials were investigated for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol using molecular oxygen as oxidant. It was observed that calcination temperature plays an important role in the process. The catalyst calcined at 400 ºC showed the highest catalytic activity for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Molecular oxygen was found to be the most efficient oxidant in the catalytic performance of the synthesized catalyst.