Studies on dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone over mesoporous supported copper catalysts

SBA-15, KIT-6, supported catalysts with 10% Cu loading have been prepared by impregnation techniques. The prepared catalysts have been characterized by BET technique, X-ray diffraction, Temperature programmed reduction (TPR), XPS and pulse chemisorption techniques. Dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol has been performed over these catalysts in vapour phase at 523 K. SBA-15 and KIT-6 supported copper catalysts showed higher activity than supported Cu catalyst in dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol, which can be attributed to better Cu dispersion, small copper particle size and more number of Cu active species presented on the surface of mesoporous supported catalysts. SYNOPSIS Higher Cu-dispersion in 10%Cu/SBA-15 and 10%Cu/KIT-6 due to mesoporous nature of support is helpful in exhibiting higher cyclohexanol dehydrogenation ability than in.