Role of the support and of the preparation method for copper-based catalysts in the 2-propanol decomposition

Pure copper oxide and mixed CuO/ZnO catalysts with different Cu:Zn atomic ratios were tested for the 2-propanol decomposition in order to investigate the nature of the active site and the role of the ZnO support. Fresh catalysts as well as catalysts oxidized in pure oxygen did not exhibit any catalytic activity below 373 K. When reduced either in pure hydrogen or in reaction mixture (helium plus alcohol) both copper oxide and mixed two-phase catalysts showed a dehydrogenating activity in the temperature range 323–423 K. The apparent activation energy for both reduced CuO and reduced CuO/ZnO catalysts was 60 ± 8 kJ mol−1. The first order rate constants were found to be a linear function of the exposed zero-valent copper area. The comparison of Cu(0) turnover frequency in unsupported Cu(0) and in Cu(0)/ZnO samples did not show any synergic effect of the support. The role of the preparation method on the Cu(0) dispersion is also discussed.