Study on Preparation of Ce/Cu-BTC and Its Catalytic Oxidation Process of P-Diethyl benzene to P-Ethyl acetophenone in the Fixed-Bed Reactor

A new cerium doped copper hybrid bimetallic organic framework (Ce/Cu-BTC) was synthesized for oxidizing p-diethylbenzene (PDEB) to p-ethylacetophenone (EAP) in the batch and fixed-bed reactors. The oxidization mechanism for PDEB to EAP over Ce/Cu-BTC was investigated. Results show Ce/Cu-BTC is a mischcrystal mixture of Ce-BTC and Cu-BTC, the addition of Ce can increase the crystal phase defects and enlarge the pore size of Cu-BTC. The conversion rate of PDEB is above 95 % and the yield of EAP are stable at 75 % in the Ce/Cu-BTC fixed bed reactor. A mixture of EAP, 1-(4-ethylphenyl)-1-ethanol (EPEA) and p-diacetylbenzene (PDAB) can be detected in the outlet of the reactor. The PDEB with Ce4+/Cu2+, H2O2 and bromine free radical generate EPEA and EAP, the EAP is then further oxidized to PDAB. The mischcrystal structure of Ce/Cu-BTC is beneficial to improve the catalytic oxidation activity and reaction rate of PDEB to EAP.