Silica‐Supported Copper Oxide Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalysts for Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Cyclohexane

The selective oxidation of cyclohexane to KA oil (a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol) is investigated using silica‐supported copper oxide catalysts under mild conditions with molecular oxygen. Copper oxide nanoparticles with varying loadings (10, 20, and 30 wt%) are synthesized on a silica carrier using the deposition‐precipitation method. The prepared catalysts are characterized through several techniques, including X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature‐programmed reduction, and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, to correlate their physicochemical properties with catalytic performance. Among the catalysts studied, the 20 wt% CuO/SiO ₂ demonstrated the best performance, achieving an 11% conversion of cyclohexane and 94% selectivity toward KA oil. This enhanced activity is attributed to optimal copper oxide loading, a high specific surface area,a mesoporous structure, strong redox behavior, and favorable metal–support interactions. Furthermore, this catalyst exhibits stability and reusability over five cycles with minimal loss of activity. Key reaction parameters such as temperature, pressure, reaction time, and catalyst amount are optimized to improve overall performance.