Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol by Sol-Gel Synthesized Nano Copper Aluminate

Abstract

Nano copper aluminate spinel catalyst prepared by sol-gel technique using citric acid as gelling agent and sintered at 900 ºC was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM to identify the structural phases, stretching frequencies, surface morphology and particle size, respectively. The prepared catalyst was used for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in presence of hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. The effect of solvent, reaction time and amount of catalyst on the catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol was studied. Formation, percentage yield and turnover number of benzaldehyde were confirmed by gas chromatography and ammonia chemisorption data. Without using the catalyst or the solvent, very low yield of benzaldehyde was observed. Highest conversion and turnover number of benzaldehyde was observed using acetonitrile as the solvent.