Solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by tert-butyl hydroperoxide over U3O8-supported nano-gold catalysts Original Research Article

Liquid-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by tertiary butyl hydroperoxide over different uranium oxide supported nano-gold catalysts in the absence of a solvent has been thoroughly investigated. The influences of catalyst parameters [viz. method of gold deposition (impregnation, co-precipitation, deposition–precipitation and homogeneous deposition–precipitation), gold loading (0–8 wt%) and catalyst calcination temperature (100–900 °C)] on the catalyst performance have been investigated. The influence of reaction conditions [viz. reaction time (0–2 h) and temperature (25–94 °C)] on the process performance has also been studied. The Au/U3O8 catalyst prepared by the homogeneous deposition–precipitation and calcined at 400 °C showed very high activity (100% benzyl alcohol conversion with >85% selectivity for benzaldehyde) in the process for a short reaction period (0.5 h) at 94 °C. The catalyst also showed excellent reusability in the process.