Inhibition of a Gold-Based Catalyst in Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation: Understanding and Remediation

Benzyl alcohol oxidation was carried out in toluene as solvent, in the presence of the potentially inhibiting oxidation products benzaldehyde and benzoic acid. Benzoic acid, or a product of benzoic acid, is identified to be the inhibiting species. The presence of a basic potassium salt (K2CO3 or KF) suppresses this inhibition, but promotes the...

Heterogeneously Catalyzed Continuous-Flow Hydrogenation Using Segmented Flow in Capillary Columns

Segmented flow in standard GC capillary columns, with a heterogeneous Pd catalyst on the walls, gave rapid information about catalytic processes in them. The residence time and conversion was monitored visually, greatly simplifying bench-scale optimization. Examples show the benefits of the elimination of pore diffusion and axial dispersion....