Solvent-free benzyl alcohol oxidation reaction over Sm-CeO₂ supported gold nanoparticle using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant

Abstract

In this work, liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol under solvent-free condition is carried out using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant over CeO₂, Sm-CeO₂, Au/CeO₂, and Au/Sm-CeO₂ catalysts. The Au/Sm-CeO₂ catalyst shows higher activity compared to Au/CeO₂ catalyst but in every case, almost 100% selectivity of benzaldehyde is observed. From CO₂-temperature programmed desorption results, it is observed that the amount of basic sites increase after samarium doping and these basic sites play a crucial role for benzyl alcohol oxidation reaction. From these above experimental results, superior catalytic activity was observed for 2.33 wt% Au/Sm-CeO₂ catalyst (Sm/Ce = 4/100).

Keywords:

• Gold nanoparticle
• benzyl alcohol
• oxidation
• tert-butyl hydroperoxide

Acknowledgement

BC would like to acknowledge K. K. Bando for helping in XAFS measurement and DST Govt. of India for research grant (scheme SB/S1/PC-10/2012). BC also acknowledges DST and JSPS for funding under India-Japan exploratory exchange programme to carry out XAFS measurement in the KEK photon factory. The XAFS experiments were conducted under approval of PF-PAC (Project no. 2009G695) and Spring8 Priority Program for Disaster-Affected Quantum Beam Facilities (Project no. 2011A1968). SM acknowledges Indian School of Mines (ISM) for financial support.