A new metal oxide catalyst in alcohol condensation

The characteristics of a new ternary catalyst obtained from tin dioxide, cerium dioxide and rhodium oxide (Sn-Ce-Rh-O) are presented. The material is also used as a chemical gas sensor. The properties of this catalyst have been compared to the properties of pure tin dioxide. The Sn-Ce-Rh-O catalyst shows high activity and selectivity in the ketonisation of n-butanol. Ar the temperature of 350 degreesC and 1 h(-1) load, dipropylketone has been obtained with 89% selectivity at 88% n-butanol conversion. The catalytic material has a crystal structure of a rutile type. It is built from very small crystallites of 5 nm size on average. The distribution of particular components of the catalyst is homogeneous. The specific area of the Sn-Ce-Rh-O catalyst is 70 m(2)/g. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.