2001 Volume 34 Issue 2 Pages 138-142
CaO-C catalysts were prepared by precipitating calcium acetate with citric acid for 4 h in an aqueous solution at 80°C followed by reduction at 500-700°C. The resultant average pore radius and BET surface area of CaO-C, CaO crystallite size, and carbon content in CaO-C were about 1.5-2.5 nm, 170-200 m2/g, 11.2 nm, and 10-20%, respectively. These values suggest that the highly dispersed CaO-C catalyst forms mainly due to the residual carbon acting as a spacer. 4 wt% Ni/CaO-C reduced at 700°C was used for one step synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) from acetone. 60-70% of acetone overall conversion and 70% of MIBK selectivity are obtained which are much higher than those ever reported. The diisobutyl ketone (DIBK) selectivity decreases drastically because of the remaining carbon which blocks DIBK formation sites.