Al(OH)3 containing molybdenum species as an efficient support-catalyst system in benzyl alcohol reaction

Al(OH)3 containing 2–50 wt% of molybdenum was prepared by incipient wetness impregnation technique. The pure support and support-catalyst mixtures were characterized through surface area, total surface acidity, PXRD patterns, FTIR spectra, TGA/DSC profiles and SEM pictures. Catalytic activity of the support and various supported catalysts were tested in the reaction of benzyl alcohol in liquid phase. The number of products formed and the selectivity of each depend on the percentage weight of molybdenum in the catalyst-support mixtures. Low percentage of molybdenum favored the formation of dibenzyl ether; whereas higher percentage of molybdenum favored toluene and benzaldehyde, via. intermolecular dehydration and redox reaction, respectively. Samples containing 15 and above wt% of molybdenum were found to be efficient catalysts as they exhibited about 98% conversion of benzyl alcohol, exclusively into toluene and benzaldehyde. A good correlation could be established between the catalytic activity and surface properties of the catalysts.