Supported Ruthenium Catalysts for Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol under Solvent Free Conditions

Abstract

The investigation comprised an evaluation of the use of the catalyst, 1%Ru/TiO2, to oxidize Phenylmethanol into benzenecarbaldehyde. nitrogen adsorption isotherms and transmittance electron microscope (TEM) were deployed to delineate the properties of the supported catalysts. The findings indicated a superior catalytic performance from 1%Ru/TiO2 prepared using sol-immobilization method. No reaction was taken place with blank reaction or with undoped support. This was deemed to be a consequence of the dispersion and loading of Ru on the TiO2.The reaction conditions, i.e., temperature, reaction time, nature of catalyst and activating quantity, were optimized to achieve superior reaction parameters. This process gave rise to a benzyl alcohol transformation rate of up to 10%; and selectivity of benzaldehyde was 98%.