Cu–Ni/SiO2 Catalysts for Dehydrogenation Reaction of Secondary Butyl Alcohol

Cu–Ni/SiO2 catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation method and used in the dehydrogenation reaction of secondary butyl alcohol to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). The crystal structure, reduction characteristics, element valence state and dispersibility of the catalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Auger electron spectroscopy (XAES) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The role of Ni component in the dehydrogenation reaction of secondary butyl alcohol was analyzed. The results showed that the conversion of secondary butyl alcohol increased to over 99