Effect of the support and added oxides on the bistability observed in the oxidative dehydrogenation of 2-propanol over copper-supported catalysts

A bistability phenomenon has been observed in the oxidative dehydrogenation of 2-propanol over supported copper catalysts. Cu/Al2O3 and Cu/CeO2 have been prepared by room temperature adsorption of the copper amino complex on the supports. The comparison of the hysteresis observed when the partial pressure of oxygen is varied, indicates that there is an important effect of the support. This effect is explained by the variation in specific surface areas of the supports and in their reducibilities. The possible influence of a second phase (alpha-Sb2O4, SnO2, Bi2O3 and NiO) added to the copper catalysts has also been studied