Dehydration of 2‐Octanol over Ca‐doped CeO2 Catalysts

Abstract Vapor‐phase catalytic dehydration of 2‐octanol was investigated over Ca‐doped CeO 2 at 375 °C and atmospheric pressure. Ca doping up to 0.15 wt % was found to increase the dehydration activity for 2‐octanol, whereas further increases in Ca content (0.50 and 1.25 wt %) detrimentally affected the conversion. Catalyst surface area and pore volume increased with increasing Ca content in Ca‐doped CeO 2 . Hydrogen temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR) profiles indicate that the partially reduced state of surface ceria (i.e., Ce 3+ ), which increases with increasing Ca loading up to 0.15 wt %, might play an important role in promoting dehydration.