Copper catalysts based on fiberglass supports for hydrocarbon oxidation reactions with the participation of hydrogen peroxide

Copper-containing catalysts were prepared by the adsorption of the ammonia complexes of Cu(II) on the surface of a silicate fiberglass material followed by the thermal and oxidative treatment of the samples. The states of copper after the adsorption of ammonia complexes and in the prepared samples were characterized using electronic diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the samples in hydrogen peroxide decomposition and cyclohexane oxidation reactions was studied. It was found that molecular oxygen can be involved in the radical process of hydrogen peroxide oxidation. Based on spectroscopic data, it was hypothesized that partially reduced Cu(I)-Cu(O) compounds are active species in the catalysts of this type. © 2008 MAIK Nauka.