Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexanone to Phenol over the Ru, Rh, Pd and Pt Surfaces in Sub-critical Water

With the overview of different kinds of phenol synthesis routes, dehydrogenation of cyclohexanone to phenol under sub-critical water condition using Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru and Re immobilized heterogeneous catalysts have been reported. Surface properties and characterizations of the catalysts were done. Binding of metal on a support and their relationship with zeta potential (ζ) and their effect on catalytic activity are discussed. Importance of sub-critical water reaction conditions in terms of thermodynamic favourability and phase equilibrium are evaluated through ASPEN simulator. Based on the results obtained, possible reaction pathways for the formation of product and the by-products are illustrated. The feasibility of a metal acting as a dehydrogenation catalyst according to M0/MII (E0) couple is also explained.