Mesoporous 12-tungstophosphoric acid/activated bentonite catalysts for oxidation of 2-propanol

In the present study, the effect of 12-tungstophosphoric acid (HPW) immobilisation on the catalytic activity of H(3)PW(12)O(40)/mesoporous acid-activated bentonite catalysts (AAB) was investigated. The catalysts were characterised by XRD, IR, SEM and BET, and the activity of acid-activated bentonite catalysts with various loadings of HPW were studied in the conversion of vapour-phase 2-propanol. The results indicated that the conversion of 2-propanol increased substantially as the temperature increased from 343 K to 553 K. Alternatively, the conversion and selectivity of the reaction increased with an increase in the HPW concentration. Moreover, the proposed catalysts enhanced the oxidation of 2-propanol to acetone and suppressed the acid-catalysed dehydration of propanol to propylene. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.