One-Step Benzene Hydroxylation to Phenol Using CuOx/Mesoporous Hangjin 2# clay composites

In this work, CuOx/mesoporous Hangjin 2# clay catalysts were synthesized from Cu(NO3)2 and Hangjin 2# clay in one step. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption-desorption measurements, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRUV). These materials were employed in photocatalytic benzene hydroxylation to phenol with H2O2 as the oxidant, and the effects of the copper loading and light source on the reaction were studied. The results show that the phenol selectivity and yield initially increased and then decreased with increasing copper content. Under the optimized reaction conditions, the phenol selectivity and yield were 91.9% and 25.6%, respectively. Catalyst is still active after the repeat three times.