Dehydrogenation of Isopropanol on Copper-Containing Mesoporous Catalysts

Abstract

Copper-containing mesoporous catalysts with an MCM-41 type structure have been prepared using direct hydrothermal synthesis and characterized using XRD, AAS, N2 adsorption-desorption, DRUV-vis, and TEM. All of the samples showed high structural regularity and surface area. Three copper species are presented in these materials: isolated mononuclear Cud+ species, oligonuclear [Cud+...Od-...Cud+]n clusters, and bulky CuO oxides. These materials were catalytically tested in isopropanol dehydrogenation, showing good activity and very high selectivity to propanone at 300 °C. A further reduction treatment of the samples allowed us to suggest possible active species. Both the [Cud+...Od-...Cud+]n clusters and the isolated Cud+ cations seem to be the species responsible for isopropanol dehydrogenation.