EFFECT OF CALCINATION TEMPERATURE ON MANGANESE OXIDE-ACTIVATED CARBON FOR CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF BENZYL ACOHOL L

Abstract

Mn₃O₄/AC catalysts were synthesized by deposition-precipitation method and calcined at different temperature. The effects of calcination temperature on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts were assessed by X‐ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that all the catalysts were composed solely of Mn₃O₄ in the calcination temperature range of 450°C to 550°C. The catalytic performance of the catalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant was subsequently examined. Mn₃O₄/AC-450 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity at 63.8% conversion of benzyl alcohol under mild conditions. Crystallite size and dispersion of catalysts due to the different calcination temperature have significant role in the catalytic process.