In situ synthesis of solid base catalysts for the regeneration of degradation products formed during the anthraquinone process for the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide

MgAl–CO3-layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDHs) have been synthesized on the surface of spherical γ-Al2O3 by an in situ synthesis technique using urea as a precipitant. After calcination, LDH crystallites are transformed into complex metal oxides (LDO) with high homogeneity and MgAl-LDO/γ-Al2O3 solid base catalysts containing different LDO content were obtained. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area measurements using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method indicated that the MgAl-LDO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts possess high specific surface area and rich mesoporous structure. The MgAl-LDO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were used to regenerate anthraquinone degradation products formed in the anthraquinone process for the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide. The efficiency of regeneration of the anthraquinone degradation products was found to increase with increasing LDO loading in the catalysts. Compared with commercial catalysts of NaOH/γ-Al2O3 and MgO/γ-Al2O3 prepared by the impregnation method, MgAl-LDO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts exhibited not only higher activity but also longer life.

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► MgAl-LDHs was synthesized on the surface of γ-Al2O3 as a catalyst precursor.
► Calcination of MgAl-LDHs/γ-Al2O3 precursor, LDO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was obtained.
► The surface basicity of the catalysts increased with increasing LDO loading.
► LDO/γ-Al2O3 exhibits high efficiency of anthraquinone degradation regeneration.