Dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol on copper containing catalysts: The role of the support and the preparation method.

SiO2 and Al2O3 supported copper catalysts were prepared by “chemisorption–hydrolysis” or incipient wetness impregnation methods and investigated by XRD, TG-TPR, UV–vis diffuse reflectance and FTIR spectroscopy. Formation of finely dispersed copper oxide species was registered for the samples prepared by “chemisorption–hydrolysis” method, while a significant amount of XRD detectable copper oxide phase is registered for the SiO2 impregnated one. The latter materials possess higher catalytic selectivity in cyclohexanol dehydrogenation to cyclohexanone.