Highly Efficient Nano-Catalysts Using Activated Carbon as a Support for One-Step Oxidation of Cyclohexane to Adipic Acid

A new route to substitute for the traditional two-step method for adipic acid production has been investigated. Supported nano metal catalysts Au/C and Co/C were prepared and used for liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane to adipic acid with oxygen as an oxidant. These catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM and ICP-AES. The reactions were carried out in an autoclave with solvent and radical initiator at 373~423K and 1.5 MPa. Au/C (1.25%) was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexane with a high conversion (44.93%) of cyclohexane and more than 54.85% selectivity to adipic acid. It is indicated that there was a potential application prospect for the nano-catalysts in one-step oxidation of cyclohexane to adipic acid.