Active phase of a Pd-Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst for benzene hydroxylation: In-situ XAFS studies

Abstract

The gas-phase hydroxylation of benzene by using a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen has been carried out over Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts modified with palladium. In-situ X-ray absorption studies employed in the course of H2-tempereature programmed reduction (H2-TPR) followed by benzene hydroxylation confirmed that the oxidic phase of Cu2+ was transformed to Cu+ during the reaction. The addition of Pd to Cu/ZSM-5 noticeably improved the reducibility of the oxidic Cu phase, which resulted in an increase in the activity of the reaction.