Hydroxylation of phenol catalyzed by different forms of Cu-alginate with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant

Copper alginate (dry beads and powder) catalysts were prepared using four concentrations of copper chloride dihydrate and sodium alginate. The resulting catalysts were characterized by FT-IR. ICP-AES, SEM, EDX and nitrogen physisorption measurements. The results of phenol hydroxylation showed that the catalytic activities of these catalysts are related to the Cu (II) content. The highest conversions of phenol were 52.9% and 62.5% over dry beads and powder, respectively, with a catechol-to-hydroquinone ratio of 3:2. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.