Co3O4@c derived from metal-organic frameworks use for production of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)

A method of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) production from 2-butanol, comprising:

• contacting 2-butanol in a gas phase with a solid nanocomposite catalyst consisting of Co3O4 nanoparticles with an average particle size of 1 to 100 nm dispersed in a carbon matrix in a reactor at a temperature of about 300° C. to dehydrogenate the 2-butanol and form the MEK and hydrogen while gas sparging the reactor,
• wherein:
• the solid nanocomposite catalyst has a conversion of greater than or equal to 70 mol. % for 2-butanol to MEK and a selectivity of greater than or equal to 97.0% for 2-butanol to MEK, and
• the solid nanocomposite catalyst is formed from the calcination of ZIF-67 metal-organic framework at a temperature of 400° C. or less.