Selective liquid phase oxidation using gold catalysts

Au/C and Au/oxide (Al₂O₃, TiO₂) have been compared in the liquid phase oxidation of glycols and a different trend in reactivity revealed. On the oxides the activity of supported gold increases by decreasing particle size, whereas on carbon maximum activity is achieved with gold particle mean diameter around 7–8 nm. XPS revealed that in the latter case activity depends not only on the size of the gold particle but also on its surface concentration. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.