THE NATURE OF ACTIVE-SITES IN CU PENTASIL CATALYSTS FOR DEEP OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS/

Catalytic activity and adsorption properties of copper-containing pent asils with Si/Al ratios of 20 and 40, prepared by ion exchange, mechan ical mixing, and impregnation are studied. The Cu/pentasil systems exh ibit high activity in the reaction of deep oxidation of benzene and is opentane. The readily reducible Cu2+ cations, localized in the zeolite channels in the planar-square coordination, are shown to be the most active sites in the catalysts. Benzene can also be oxidized on surface copper cations. The chemisorption strengths for hydrocarbons with dif ferent properties, CO2, and H2O is estimated.