Property and Performance of CuO/γ-Alumina Nanocomposites for the Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds

Copper oxide supported on γ-alumina nanoparticles were prepared and were well characterized. In this study catalytic activities of the supported copper oxide for oxidation of cyclohexene to 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, 2-cyclohexene-1-one and cyclohexene oxide with TBHP and H2O2 as the oxidant, in the liquid phase were considered. For the CuO/γalumina nanocomposites, acetonitrile as the solvent was employed. The products of the catalysis are 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, 2-cyclohexene-1-one and cyclohexene oxide. The conversion percent of cyclohexene depended on oxidant, solvent and the catalyst. TBHP was found to be better oxidant than H2O2 since minimal destruction of the catalyst and higher conversion of cyclohexene were observed when this oxidant was employed. Under these reaction conditions, the order of catalytic activities is as follows: 10%CuO/γ-alumina > 15%CuO/γ-alumina > 5%CuO/γ-alumina. When the reaction was catalyzed with γalumina without any CuO, the reaction yield and conversion were reduced considerably compared to those of supported γ-alumina. With 10% CuO supported on γ-alumina nanoparticles and under our experimental conditions, the conversion percent of cyclohexene is 84.9%.