Effect of sulfate on the surface and catalytic properties of iron–chromium mixed oxide pillared clay

Sulfate-supported iron–chromium mixed oxide pillared clay was prepared varying the sulfate loading from 1 to 5 wt% by the incipient wetness method and characterized by low-angle XRD, BET surface area, and ammonia TPD. All the samples were found to be stable up to 500 ◦C having the basal spacing 17.7 Å even after sulfate impregnation. Formation of strong Lewis acid sites and decrease in the number of Brønsted acid sites due to the sulfate loading were observed from the ammonia TPD curve. Catalytic properties of the sulfated materials were evaluated with the help of methanol conversion and aromatic alkylation reactions and correlated with the surface area and TPD results. For methanol conversion, decomposition product selectivity increases due to the sulfate addition. A negligible decrease in the surface area and a substantial increase in the catalytic activity were observed due to the sulfate loading of 1–2 wt%. However, a significant decrease in the surface area as well as catalytic activity was observed for the 3 wt% and above sulfate loaded samples which may be due to the partial blockage of pores by excess sulfate. Results shows the importance of acidity of the material due to sulfate loading (up to 2 wt%) and thus can be used as a better acid catalyst