Hybrid catalyst containing nano-sized LaMnO3 and carbon black for high yield and selective ketonization of n-butanol

An attempt has been made to synthesize a two-component hybrid material for highly selective catalytic ketonization of n-butanol. The perovskite-type oxide nano-crystallites were synthesized in the presence of carbon black particles by thermal transformation of equimolar mixture of lanthanum and manganese hydroxides into the perovskite-type oxide. The two-component material was tested as a catalyst for unconventional conversion of n-butanol to heptanone-4. The catalyst exhibited very high selectivity and yield towards the products, despite low content of LaMnO3 in the two-component material (less than 10% by weight). The low oxide content led to the reduction of the cost of catalyst fabrication and is compensated by its high dispersion (grains ca. 20–30 nm in diameter) providing high conversion and yield comparable to pure-oxide catalysts. Catalyst fabrication is simple and environment friendly since it does not require organic solvents and excess amount of heavy metals (La and Mn).