Dehydrogenation of isopropylic alcohol on a Cu/SiO2 catalyst: a study of the activity evolution and reactivation of the catalyst Original Research Article

The activation-deactivation behaviour of a Cu/SiO2 catalyst during isopropyl alcohol (IPA) dehydrogenation to acetone has been studied. Simultaneous reduction and sintering processes are responsible for the activation-deactivation behaviour observed. The reducing H2 atmosphere impulses the transformation of CuO into Cu0 and at the same time the sintering of the Cu0 phase formed. The reoxidation treatment in air at 573–673 K is able to regenerate a finely dispersed CuO phase from the sintered Cu0 phase. As a result, the active phase is redispersed and the dehydrogenation activity is recovered. The results indicate the existence of two CuO phases on the catalyst, with different properties. The CuO phase with a low reduction temperature, a small particle size and a poor crystallinity, is the one responsible for the appearance of the finely dispersed Cu0, which is the active phase for this reaction.