CHEMISORPTION AND CATALYTIC PARAMETERS OF ALUMINA-SUPPORTED COPPER-OXIDE CATALYSTS

The textural properties of CuO/Al2O3 catalysts were determined from th e adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K. The surface area decreases and the m ean pore radius increases with the increase of copper loading and with the rise of calcination temperature. CuAl2O4 was detected when the sa mple containing 20 wt% Cu was calcined at 1173 K. The data obtained fr om the chemisorption of hydrogen on reduced catalysts allowed the dete rmination of the metal surface area, the crystallite size and the exte nt of metal dispersion. Hydrogenation of cyclopentadiene to cyclopenta ne, on the reduced catalysts depends on the efficiency of the dispersi on of the metal at the surface of the support and on the metal surface area. This reaction depends also, but to a lesser extent, on the meta l loading and crystallite size. The catalytic hydrogenation of cyclope ntadiene is a structural insensitive reaction independent of the total surface area, as determined from the physical adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K on the catalyst.