Bimetallic synergistic Au/CuO-hydroxyapatite catalyst for aerobic oxidation of alcohols

A catalyst consisting of Au supported on copper oxide-modified hydroxyapatite (Au/CuO-HAP) was prepared using a homogeneous deposition-precipitation method. The catalyst was characterized using atomic absorption spectrometry, N2 adsorption-desorption, powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalytic performance in liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of alcohols was investigated. The catalytic activity and benzaldehyde selectivity in benzyl alcohol oxidation with the bimetallic Au/CuO-HAP catalyst were significantly better than those with monometallic Au/HAP and CuO-HAP catalysts. The conversion of benzyl alcohol and selectivity for benzaldehyde at 120 °C for 1.5 h under aerobic oxidation conditions were 99.7% and 98.4%, respectively. Various aromatic alcohols were selectively converted to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones over Au/CuO-HAP. The Au/CuO-HAP catalyst could be reused at least four times without loss of activity.