Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene to Benzaldehyde: Effect of Aging Time and Calcination Temperature Using Cuxznyo Mixed Metal Oxide Nanoparticles
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catalysts Article Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene to Benzaldehyde: Effect of Aging Time and Calcination Temperature Using CuxZnyO Mixed Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Khadijah H. Alharbi 1,*, Ali Alsalme 2 , Ahmed Bader A. Aloumi 2 and Mohammed Rafiq H. Siddiqui 2,* 1 Department of Chemistry, Science and Arts College, Rabigh Campus, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21911, Saudi Arabia 2 Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; [email protected] (A.A.); [email protected] (A.B.A.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected] (K.H.A.); rafi[email protected] (M.R.H.S.); Tel.: +966-563180807 (K.H.A.); +966-(0)114676082 (M.R.H.S.) Abstract: Oxidation is an important organic transformation, and several catalysts have been reported for this conversion. In this study, we report the synthesis of mixed metal oxide CuxZnyO, which is prepared by a coprecipitation method by varying the molar ratio of Cu and Zn in the catalytic system. The prepared mixed metal oxide CuxZnyO was evaluated for catalytic performance for toluene oxidation. Various parameters of the catalytic evaluation were studied in order to ascertain the optimum condition for the best catalytic performance. The results indicate that aging time, calcination temperature, reaction temperature, and feed rate influence catalytic performance. It was found that the catalyst interfaces apparently enhanced catalytic activity for toluene oxidation. The Citation: Alharbi, K.H.; Alsalme, A.; XRD diffractograms reveal the crystalline nature of the mixed metal oxide formed and also confirm Aloumi, A.B.A.; Siddiqui, M.R.H. the coexistence of hexagonal and monoclinic crystalline phases. The catalyst prepared by aging for 4 h Selective Catalytic Oxidation of and calcined at 450 ◦C was found to be the best for the conversion of toluene to benzaldehyde while Toluene to Benzaldehyde: Effect of the reactor temperature was maintained at 250 ◦C with toluene fed into the reactor at 0.01 mL/min. Aging Time and Calcination The catalyst was active for about 13 h. Temperature Using CuxZnyO Mixed Metal Oxide Nanoparticles. Catalysts 2021, 11, 354. https://doi.org/ Keywords: oxidation of toluene; mixed metal oxide; heterogeneous catalysis 10.3390/catal11030354 Academic Editor: Sónia Carabineiro 1. Introduction Received: 26 January 2021 Toluene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is a solvent that is an important industrial feed- Accepted: 5 March 2021 stock. Moreover, it is also an important starting material for the preparation of benzalde- Published: 9 March 2021 hyde and benzyl alcohol. However, this transformation has intrigued scientists for a long time as this oxidation is difficult because of the over oxidation of benzaldehyde into ben- Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral zoic acid. Hence, the benzoic acid production is carried out by the oxidation of toluene, with regard to jurisdictional claims in while the chlorination of toluene is employed for the production of benzaldehyde and published maps and institutional affil- benzyl alcohol, which raises serious ecological issues [1–3]. A variety of transition metal iations. catalysts have been reported for the synthesis of benzaldehyde using a variety of substrates as starting materials such as benzyl chloride, benzyl alcohol, and toluene, as mentioned earlier (Scheme1)[ 4,5]. However, the preparation of benzaldehyde from toluene oxidation is more efficient for industrial production, and hence it is widely studied. Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Various noble-metal-based catalysts such as Au, Pd, Pt, Ru, and Ag, along with their Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. alloys, have been utilized for the oxidation of toluene by oxygen [6–10]. However, in most This article is an open access article cases, the selectivity towards benzaldehyde is compromised; moreover, these catalysts are distributed under the terms and not cost-effective for use in large-scale production. Hence, it can be said that a cheap and conditions of the Creative Commons efficient catalytic system for high toluene conversion is yet to be identified. Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// In order to replace the noble metals, cheaper alternatives are being probed by replacing creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ these noble metals with cheaper transition metals for a variety of chemical reactions [11–14]. 4.0/). Catalysts 2021, 11, 354. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11030354 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts Catalysts 2021, 11, 354 2 of 14 One such transition metal is Zn, and zinc-based catalysts have been widely used for various conversions such as decomposition of nitrous oxide [15], oxidation of water [16], hydrocarbon oxidation [17], dye degradation [18], and preparation of alcohols [19–22]. Catalysts 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEWOn the other hand, copper-based catalysts have also been broadly employed for several 2 of 14 conversions, such as CO oxidation [23], benzene oxidation [24], and the hydroxylation of benzene [25]. Scheme 1. Schematic representation of oxidation of toluene. Scheme 1. Schematic representation of oxidation of toluene. Mixed metal oxides have also attracted attention for other catalytic reactions such as oxidation, dehydrogenation, and various coupling reactions [26–29]. However, one suchIn mixed order metal to replace oxide, zinc–copper the noble mixedmetals, oxide cheaper catalyst, alternatives has gained attention are being due probed by replac- ingto these its use noble in a plethora metals of catalyticwith cheaper processes, transition particularly metals for methanol for a synthesisvariety [of30], chemical reactions [11CO–14] oxidation. One such [31,32 ],transition methanol oxidation metal is [33 Zn], primary, and z alcoholsinc-based [34], catalyst and reductions have of been widely used 4-nitrophenol [35]. However, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been employed for forthe various conversion conve of toluenersions to benzaldehyde.such as decomposition of nitrous oxide [15], oxidation of water [16], hydrocarbonHence, based on theoxidation above literature [17], reportsdye degradation and in continuation [18] of, ourand studies preparation towards of alcohols [19– 22]preparation. On the other of various hand catalysts, copper for different-based conversion catalysts reactions have also [36– 42been], in thebroadly present employed for sev- work we report the synthesis of CuxZnyO mixed oxide by coprecipitation with varied eralaging conversions time and calcination, such as temperature. CO oxidation The prepared[23], benzene catalysts oxidation were characterized [24], and by the hydroxylation of variousbenzene techniques [25]. such as XRD, XPS, FT-IR, TGA, SEM, and TEM. The catalysts obtained wereM studiedixed metal for the oxides optimization have of also reaction attracted conditions attention for the conversionfor other ofcatalytic toluene reactions such as to benzaldehyde. oxidation, dehydrogenation, and various coupling reactions [26–29]. However, one such mixed2. Results metal oxide, zinc–copper mixed oxide catalyst, has gained attention due to its use in 2.1.a plethora XRD Analysis of catalytic processes, particularly for methanol synthesis [30], CO oxidation [31,32]The, methanol CuxZnyO mixed oxidation metal oxide [33] nanoparticles, primary werealcohols synthesized [34], byand the coprecipita-reduction of 4-nitrophenol tion method and subjected to calcination at different temperatures, namely 350, 450, and [35]550. However,◦C. The XRD to pattern the ofbest the of samples our knowledge calcined at different, it has temperatures not been is employed presented in for the conversion of Figuretoluene1. No to observable benzaldehyde. difference was found among the three XRD patterns observed. HenceA comparison, based of XRDon the patterns above obtained literature for CuxZn reportsyO mixed and metal in oxide continuation nanoparticles of our studies to- calcined at 450 ◦C with standard peaks is displayed in Figure2. The high-intensity sharp wardspeak confirmedpreparation the highly of crystallinevarious naturecatalysts of the material.for different The peaks conversion observed completely reactions [36–42], in the presentmatched work those reportedwe report in the databasethe synthesis for CuO (JCPDSof Cu 48-1548)xZnyO andmixed ZnO (JCPDSoxide 36-1451). by coprecipitation with variedThe XRD aging pattern time obtained and indicatedcalcination the absence temperature. of any other The molecules prepared of Znand catalyst Cu, sinces were characterized there were no additional peaks observed in the XRD pattern. The pattern observed in the byZnO various diffractogram techniques at 31.83(100), such 34.45(002),as XRD, 36.30(101),XPS, FT- 47.57(012),IR, TGA, 56.65(110), SEM, and 62.90(013), TEM. The catalysts ob- tained66.28(200), were 68.03(112), studied 69.11(201), for the optimization 72.47(004), and 76.97(202)of reaction confirmed conditions the formation for the of conversion of tol- uehexagonalne to benzaldehyde. structure like wurtzite (space group: P63mc, lattice parameters: a = 3.2533 Å and c = 5.2073 Å) [22]. Similarly, the remaining signals at 32.64(110), 35.56(11-1), 38.75(111), 46.26(−112), 48.78(20-2), 53.49(020), 56.63(021), 58.38(202), 61.55(−113), 65.85(022), 2. 66.28(Results31-1), 68.03(113), 72.45(311), and 75.20(22-2) were confirmed to be of CuO in tenorite crystal with monoclinic crystal structure (space group: C1c1, lattice parameters: a = 4.6893 Å, 2.1.b =XRD 3.4268 A Å,nalysisc = 5.1321 Å, and b = 99.653◦)[22]. The CuxZnyO mixed metal oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the coprecipita- tion method and subjected to calcination at different temperatures, namely 350, 450, and 550 °C. The XRD pattern of the samples calcined at different temperatures is presented in Figure 1. No observable difference was found among the three XRD patterns observed. CatalystsCatalysts 2021,2021 11,, x11 FOR, 354 PEER REVIEW 3 of 14 3 of 14 Catalysts 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 4 of 14 ◦ Figure 1. XRD patterns of CuxZnyO mixed metal oxide nanoparticles calcined at 350, 450, and 550 C. Figure 1. XRD patterns of CuxZnyO mixed metal oxide nanoparticles calcined at 350, 450, and 550 °C .