Catalytic properties of BaPb_1-xBi_xO₃ perovskite oxide for partial oxidation <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-IN">of benzyl alcohol</span>

40-48<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:="" en-in;mso-fareast-language:en-in;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-IN">Partial oxidation of benzyl alcohol is carried out on BPb1-xBixO3, (x = 0-1) type perovskite oxides. Benzaldehyde and toluene are obtained as the major products when the reaction is carried out in the absence of oxygen. When the reaction is carried out in the presence of gas phase oxygen small amounts of benzoic acid and benzyl benzoate are also obtained. Catalysts have been characterised by XRD after the reaction. Catalyst undergoes partial decomposition when the reaction is carried out in the absence of gas phase oxygen. Extent of reduction of catalyst depends on the partial pressure of oxygen. XPS studies reveal that bismuth rich compounds are more basic. High activity and selectivity of bismuth rich systems have been attributed to their high basicity.