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

Copper oxide supported on gamma -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 H sub(2) O sub(2) as the oxidant, in the liquid phase were considered. For the CuO/ gamma -alumina 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 H sub(2) O sub(2) 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/ gamma -alumina > 15%CuO/ gamma -alumina > 5%CuO/ gamma -alumina. When the reaction was catalyzed with gamma -alumina without any CuO, the reaction yield and conversion were reduced considerably compared to those of supported gamma -alumina. With 10% CuO supported on gamma -alumina nanoparticles and under our experimental conditions, the conversion percent of cyclohexene is 84.9%.