Effect of zinc addition on copper catalyst in isoamyl alcohol dehydrogenation

A series of zinc-promoted copper catalysts with various Zn to Cu ratios were prepared by an impregnation method. The effect of zinc addition on copper catalysts for the dehydrogenation reaction of isoamyl alcohol was examined. The dehydrogenation reaction was carried out at atmospheric pressure in a fixed bed reactor in the temperature range of 230-290 degrees C. Experimental data shows that the addition of zinc into a copper catalyst does improve the activity and stability of the catalyst. The more zinc addition, the better are the activity and stability. Based on the LHHW mechanisms, it was found that the dehydrogenation appears to take place at a single site on the catalyst surface on which product hydrogen gets adsorbed and where the adsorption of isoamyl alcohol is controlling the rate of reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.