CATALYSTS FOR BENZYL ALCOHOL OXIDATION IN TRICKLE BED REACTORS

A. MUZEN; M. E. RAMOS; M. CASSANELLO; P. BONELLI; A. L. CUKIERMAN

Montreal, Canadá

Congreso; 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering; 2009

Ecole Politechnique Montréal, McGill University, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

The catalytic activity of Pt catalysts for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol dissolved in water under mild operating conditions and using molecular oxygen as the oxidant is examined. Granular activated carbon (GAC) and an activated carbon cloth (ACC) are used as catalysts supports, since they are appropriate for being used in random and structured trickle bed reactors. Their performance is compared to the one obtained with a conventional Pt catalysts supported on gamma-Al2O3 beads. The catalyst prepared with ACC is mounted sandwiched between corrugated plastic sheets forming a regular ensemble. The activated carbons show a mild activity without Pt and adsorb distinctly the reactant and product due to their high specific surface area. The Pt particle size and dispersion affect the catalytic activity, which is tested in a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor. The Pt/GAC catalyst is found to be the most active. Nevertheless, the Pt/ACC is also a suitable candidate for potential use in a structured trickle bed reactor, with the advantage of having good electrical conductivity 2O3 beads. The catalyst prepared with ACC is mounted sandwiched between corrugated plastic sheets forming a regular ensemble. The activated carbons show a mild activity without Pt and adsorb distinctly the reactant and product due to their high specific surface area. The Pt particle size and dispersion affect the catalytic activity, which is tested in a laboratory scale fixed bed reactor. The Pt/GAC catalyst is found to be the most active. Nevertheless, the Pt/ACC is also a suitable candidate for potential use in a structured trickle bed reactor, with the advantage of having good electrical conductivity