Oxidation of Ethylbenzene Using Nickel Oxide Supported Metal Organic Framework Catalyst

Abstract

A metal organic framework-supported Nickel nanoparticle (Ni-MOF-5) was successfully synthesized using a simple impregnation method. The obtained solid acid catalyst was characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The catalyst was highly crystalline with good thermodynamic stability (up to <TEX>$400^{\circ}C$</TEX>) and high surface area (<TEX>$699m^2g^{-1}$</TEX>). The catalyst was studied for the oxidation of ethyl benzene, and the results were monitored via gas chromatography (GC) and found that the Ni-MOF-5 catalyst was highly effective for ethyl benzene oxidation. The conversion of ethyl benzene and the selectivity for acetophenone were 55.3% and 90.2%, respectively.