Ag/SiO2 and Cu/SiO2 cogelled xerogel catalysts for benzene combustion and 2-butanol dehydrogenation

Ag/SiO2 and Cu/SiO2 xerogel catalysts were synthesized by cogelation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and chelates of Ag and Cu with 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (EDAS). The resulting catalysts are composed of completely accessible metallic crystallites with a diameter of about 3 nm located inside silica particles exhibiting a monodisperse microporous distribution centered on a pore size of about 0.8 nm and larger metallic particles with a diameter of 20 to 40 nm located outside the silica network. The activity of Ag/SiO2 and Cu/SiO2 catalysts has been shown for benzene combustion and 2-butanol dehydrogenation.