Improvement the Catalytic Activity of gold nanostructure by Optimization of Conditions

The catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles (Au101(PPh3)21Cl5) immobilized on activated carbon (Au101/AC) was investigated in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The gold catalysts were activated trough washing with hot toluene followed by thermal treatment in static air at 100 oC for 3 h. Effects of some key parameters, such as the amounts of reactant, a base, target temperature, nature of the solvent of the gold catalysts have been explored. The effects of changes in these reaction parameters provided a guideline for the optimal conditions. The reaction mixture was studied trough series of catalytic activity tests carried out during 24 h at about 5 bar O2 and 80 °C using a stirring rate 750 rpm. When reaction was performed in optimized conditions the main products were methyl benzoate, benzoic acid and benzaldehyde. This study highlighted the importance of careful optimization of catalytic testing conditions for benzyl alcohol oxidation using nanostructured gold catalysts