Inhibition effects in the partial oxidation of cyclohexane on polymer supported Co(II) catalysts

Polymer supported catalysts with different contents of metal ions where synthesized by wet impregnation of the degassed support from ethanolic solutions of cobalt(II) nitrate. A macroreticular copolymer of poly-4-vinylpyridine with divinylbenzene was used as the support. The prepared catalysts were tested in the partial oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. Activity tests were performed in a stainless steel, laboratory scale, stirred autoclave, in the semi batch regime under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Isothermal experiments where performed at 170 °C for 120 min. In the non-isothermal conditions. isothermal experiments where performed at 170 °C for 120 min. In the non-isothermal experiments, a constant heating rate of 0.3 degree/min was used in the range between 110 °C and 170 °C. Non-linear, least-squares analysis with the simplex optimization method and numerical simulation of the reaction model in each iterative step was used for the kinetic characterization of the process in a non-stationary, semi-batch regime. Apparent rate constants were obtained as an invariant measure of the catalytic system. A non-linear effect of the content of metal ions on the reaction rate and on the ratio of the yield of the products was observed, which is attributed to a complex interactions between the reaction medium and the heterogeneous catalyst, including a catalyst-inhibition effect.