Preparation and characterization of 20 wt.% V2O5-TiO2 catalyst oxidation of cyclohexane

Abstract The 20 wt.% V 2 O 5 –TiO 2 catalyst was prepared by the sol–gel route and calcined at 300 °C. XRD, TEM, EDX and FT-IR analysis showed that the material presents a crystalline structure with the presence of both TiO 2 rutile and anatase varieties. BET analysis showed a low oxide surface area (27 m 2 /g). Cyclohexane oxidation with hydrogen peroxide in presence of the catalyst showed a low conversion. The use of acetic acid as solvent and acetone as initiator presented an approximate 8% conversion into cyclohexanol, with 76% selectivity.