Catalytic Properties of Alumina-Supported Ruthenium, Platinum, and Cobalt Nanoparticles towards the Oxidation of Cyclohexane to Cyclohexanol and Cyclohexanone

A series of metal-loaded (Ru, Pt, Co) alumina catalysts were evaluated for the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane using tertbutylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant and acetonitrile or acetic acid as solvent. These materials were prepared by the impregnation method and then characterized by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), H2 chemisorption, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). All the prepared materials acted as efficient catalysts. Among them, Ru/Al2O3 was found to have the best catalytic activity with enhanced cyclohexane conversion of 36 %, selectivity to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone of 96 % (57.6 mmol), and cyclohexane turnover frequency (TOF) of 288 h-1.