ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Application of Al₂O₃/AlNbO₄ in the oxidation of aniline to azoxybenzene

Daniel C. Batalha, Sulusmon C. Luz, Jason G. Taylor, Humberto V. Fajardo, Bruno S. Noremberg, Igor J. S. Cherubin, Ricardo M. Silva, Margarete R. F. Gonçalves, Carlos P. Bergmann, Antoninho Valentini, and Neftalí L. V. Carreño

Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil

E-mail: neftali@ufpel.edu.br

Abstract: Al₂O₃/AlNbO₄ powder was fabricated by a facile high-energy milling process. The precursor materials, Al₂O₃ and Nb₂O₅, are readily available and have very attractive properties. Moreover, the catalytic activity of the sample in the liquid phase oxidation of aniline (OA) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant was evaluated. The catalyst was found to be highly efficient and selective in the oxidation of aniline to azoxybenzene under mild conditions. When mixed with 28% AlNbO₄ the alumina-based catalyst achieved high conversion and selectivity and very similar to the pure Nb₂O₅.

Keywords: Heterogeneous catalysis ; Aniline oxidation ; Azoxybenzene ; Simple high-energy milling ; Niobium 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00897-5

Chemical Papers 74 (2) 543–553 (2020)