CATALYTIC DECOMPOSITION OF ETHANOL OVER MgO AND y-AhOJ AND THEIR MIXTURES

Abstract

The main objective of the present work is to study the effect of some factors on the catalytic activity, selectivity and surface properties of Al203 (an acidic oxide) and MgO (a basic oxide). These factors which have been J studied are: The • type of precursor used m the preparation of each oxide

(Al203 was prepared from Al(N03)3 .9H20 and Al(OH)3 while MgO was prepared from MgC03 and Mg(OH)2). Percentage of mixing, where MgO was mixed with different percentages of Al,O, (i.e. 0.5, 5, 10 and 30% (by weight)). In addition, an equimolecular mixture of both oxides was also prepared. Modification of these two oxides with different percentages of K20 and P20,.

Variation of the calcination temperature where all samples (pure, mixed and modified) were calcined at some selected temperatures between 500-900°C. - Variation of the reaction temperature at which the catalytic decomposition r reaction was studied. ' Thermal analyses (including thermogravimetry (fGA) and differential

thermal analysis (DTA)) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) were used to analyze all the oxide catalyst samples under investigation. Measurements of the acidity and basicity of all samples were performed via the temperature programmed desorption (fPD) of basic or acidic probe molecules (pyridine and formic acid, respectively) using the thermogravimetric i - analysis technique.