SBA-15, KIT-6, SiO₂ supported catalysts with 10% Cu loading have been prepared by impregnation techniques. The prepared catalysts have been characterized by BET technique, X-ray diffraction, Temperature programmed reduction (TPR), XPS and N₂O pulse chemisorption techniques. Dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol has been performed over these catalysts in vapour phase at 523 K. SBA-15 and KIT-6 supported copper catalystsshowed higher activity than SiO₂ supported Cu catalyst in dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol, which can be attributed to better Cu dispersion, small copper particle size and more number of Cu active species presented on the surface of mesoporous supported catalysts.

Hydrogenation of furfural is carried out efficiently by ZrO₂ using 2-propanol as a hydrogen source in liquid phase. Various characterizations like XRD, Pyridine-FTIR, NH₃-TPD (acidity), CO₂-TPD (basic property), and N₂ physisorption study for surface area analysis were used to understand the properties and to correlate with the activity results. These results revealed that zirconia calcined at low temperature (573 K) possesses amorphous phase, high surface area and large number of acid-base sites which are helpful in achievinghigher activity