Preparation of CuFe2O4 composite metal oxides and selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Abstract

Using iron nitrate and copper nitrate as raw materials, mesoporous material SBA-15 as template agent and n-hexane as solvent, CuFe2O4 samples of mesoporous loaded composite metal oxide catalysts were successfully prepared by calcination at 600 °C. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric-differential scanning analysis (TG-DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol by CuFe2O4 under different catalytic conditions was investigated using benzyl alcohol as a model compound, and the oxidation products were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the CuFe2O4 catalyst prepared by calcination at 600°Cwas the best. The best selective oxidation conditions were achieved at a reaction system temperature of 90 °C, a catalyst dosage of 4 g/L, a molar ratio 1:1 of H2O2 dosage to benzyl alcohol, and a reaction time of 4 h. The conversion of benzyl alcohol under this condition was 66.95%, and the selective conversion of benzaldehyde was 96.07%. This indicates that CuFe2O4 is a composite metal oxide with high selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol and has wide application prospects.