Bimetallic synergistic Au/CuO-hydroxyapatite catalyst for aerobic oxidation of alcohols

A catalyst consisting of Au supported on copper oxide-modified hydroxyapatite (Au/CuO-HAP) was prepared using a homogeneous deposition-precipitation method. The catalyst was characterized using atomic absorption spectrometry, N-2 adsorption-desorption, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic performance in liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of alcohols was investigated. The catalytic activity and benzaldehyde selectivity in benzyl alcohol oxidation with the bimetallic Au/CuO-HAP catalyst were significantly better than those with monometallic Au/HAP and CuO-HAP catalysts. The conversion of benzyl alcohol and selectivity for benzaldehyde at 120 degrees C for 1.5 h under aerobic oxidation conditions were 99.7% and 98.4%, respectively. Various aromatic alcohols were selectively converted to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones over Au/CuO-HAP. The Au/CuO-HAP catalyst could be reused at least four times without loss of activity. (C) 2015, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.