Support effect in Cu-based catalysts for vapor phase dehydrogenation of 1-decanol to decanal using CO2 as a soft oxidant

The present work aims to produce decanal from the dehydrogenation (DH) of 1-decanol with CO2 as soft oxidant over copper catalysts. The main advantage of Cu catalysts is that they can promote DH and reverse water gas shift reactions, which are part of oxidative DH of 1-decanol in presence of CO2. For this purpose, various supported Cu catalysts (Cu/MgO, Cu/CeO2, Cu/ZnO, and Cu/ZrO2) have been prepared using K2CO3 as precipitating agent. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) surface area, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H-2-temperature programmed reduction, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and CO2-temperature programmed desorption analysis. Catalytic activity of these catalysts has been evaluated at atmospheric pressure with CO2 as soft oxidant in a fixed bed flow reactor. The high catalytic activity by Cu/MgO catalyst was mainly attributed to the presence of basic sites and dispersion of Cu metal particles. Catalytic activity was correlated with catalysts characteristics. Highlights CO2 as a soft oxidant prevents over oxidation CO2 reacts with H-2 produced via reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGSR) Copper catalysts are known to be active for both dehydrogenation and RWGSRs The basic sites and interactions between Cu and MgO in Cu/MgO catalyst are responsible for high activity 10Cu/MgO catalyst can be regenerated with, little activity loss