Cr2O3-Al2O3 mixed oxide material: synthesis, structure and catalytic behavior for C-H activation

Abstract

This work reports the synthesis of Cr₂O₃-Al₂O₃ mixed oxide material via the sol-gel process. The characterization techniques used are X-ray diffraction, Nitrogen adsorption, scanning Electron Microscopy, UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy. The results show the presence of the boehmite phase and it cannot be possible to identify crystalline phase of Cr₂O₃. The surface BET of Cr₂O₃-Al₂O₃ is about 130.5 m²/g. The catalytic behavior of the mesoporous material is evaluated for the liquid- phase oxidation of cyclohexane with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant.  Cr₂O₃-Al₂O₃ was shown to be mild and efficient catalyst. The use of acetone as solvent presented an approximate 12.4% conversion with 89.66 % selectivity into cyclohexanol.