Liquid-phase hydrocarbon oxidation using supported transition metal catalysts: Influence of the solid support

The cyclohexane oxidation into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone using several zeolite-encapsulated and activated carbon supported iron-phthalocyanine catalysts was investigated in both batch and continuous reaction conditions. The catalytic activity and efficiency were shown to be strongly dependent on the polarity of the solid support material. A substantial increase in the Si/Al ratio of the NaY zeolite resulted in a increase in hydrocarbon oxidation reaction rate. Adsorption equilibrium of the different solid support materials was determined with an HPLC method. Initial reaction rate of the cyclohexane oxidation, obtained in a continuous reactor configuration, correlated well with these adsorption data. A rapid catalyst deactivation was observed under continuous reaction conditions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.