Effect of Acidity on Isobutanol Oxidation over Rhodium Based Catalysts

Isobutanol oxidation over zeolite-Rh catalysts was studied to investigate the role of acidity.  Three Y-zeolites with different Si/Al ratios were chosen for their varying acidities.  Based on ammonia-TPD and chemisorption data, the acidity decreases as CBV720-Rh>CBV760-Rh>CBV780-Rh.  In the partial oxidation regime, CBV780-Rh produced the most hydrogen with selectivity of 61.4%.