IR study of adsorption and decomposition of propan-2-ol on carbon and carbon-supported catalysts

The aim of this research is to get information on the character of the inte ractions between propan-2-ol on the one hand and carbons which differs in t he chemical structure of their surfaces or carbon-supported metal catalysts (Pt, Ae, Cu, Ni) on the other hand. The adsorption and decomposition of pr opan-2-ol were investigated with in situ infrared spectroscopy. Parallel to the FTIR studies. catalytic tests: were performed in a fixed bed flow reac tor. Prior to impregnation the unoxidized carbon sample exhibits very low c atalytic activity in the propan-2-ol decomposition while the oxidized surfa ce of carbon, especially of a metal containing carbon, effectively promotes the propan-2-ol decomposition. Although both dehydrogenation and dehydrati on processes rake place simultaneously, our data indicate that the decompos ition of propan-2-ol proceeds mainly through dehydrogenation. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.