A Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study of Oxidation of Selective Alcohols Using Chromium-based Reagents and Silver Nanoparticle Catalyst: A Spectrophotometric Approach

Oxidation is a fundamental industrial process due to its ability to produce valuable compounds, particularly the transformation of alcohols into carbonyl derivatives. While extensive research has explored this conversion, limited attention has been given to the kinetic and thermodynamic aspects. This study investigates the oxidation kinetics of selected aliphatic and cyclic alcohols using PCC and PDC in an acidic medium. These oxidants are stable, easily accessible, and efficiently convert a variety of alcohols into corresponding carbonyl compounds. The reactions were found to follow first-order kinetics with respect to oxidant concentration, and the reaction progress was monitored spectrophotometrically by tracking the decrease in absorbance at 354 nm for PCC and 470 nm for PDC. The influence of temperature was analyzed using the Arrhenius equation, while the impact of ionic strength followed the Bronsted-Bjerrum equation. An increase in alcohol concentration led to a higher oxidation rate. Additionally, this work highlights the potential of silver nanoparticles derived from plant sources as effective catalysts for alcohol oxidation. Silver nanocatalysts are highly effective in enhancing the kinetics of alcohol oxidation due to their large surface area, which provides abundant active sites for catalytic interactions. Their excellent electron transfer capability facilitates rapid redox reactions, promoting efficient conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones.