Dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone over Cu/SiO2 catalysts: Dispersion and catalytic activity

Abstract

Copper catalysts supported on silica (Cu/SiO2) were prepared by three different methods; incipient wetness, precipitation, and ion exchange. Catalytic properties in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol over these catalysts were examined. Copper surface area increased in the order of incipient wetness<precipitation<ion-exchange method for the catalysts with the same loading of copper. Conversion tvas mainly dependent on the copper surface area regardless of preparation methods, and selectivity to cyclohexanone was very high for all Cu/SiO2 catalysts.