Dehydration of 2-Octanol over Ca-doped CeO₂ Catalysts

Vapor-phase catalytic dehydration of 2-octanol was investigated over Ca-doped CeO₂ at 375 °C and atmospheric pressure. Ca doping up to 0.15 wt % was found to increase the dehydration activity for 2-octanol, whereas further increases in Ca content (0.50 and 1.25 wt %) detrimentally affected the conversion. Catalyst surface area and pore volume increased with increasing Ca content in Ca-doped CeO₂. Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) profiles indicate that the partially reduced state of surface ceria (i.e., Ce³⁺), which increases with increasing Ca loading up to 0.15 wt %, might play an important role in promoting dehydration.