Acid and redox properties of tungstated zirconia catalysts

EAU:ENERGIE+RKO:SBE:AAUVarious tungstated zirconia catalysts with a WO3 loading of about 16 wt% were characterized both in their acid and oxidation properties. The samples have been characterized in their micro-structural and surface properties by BET, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, elemental chemical analysis. The surface acidity was determined by the techniques of NH3 adsorption microcalorimetry and pyridine infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Improved acidity has been detected upon addition of WO3 to zirconia by both techniques. The global acid strength and the total number of acid sites increased greatly with the formation of WOx clusters on the zirconia support. This acidity increase can be attributed to the creation of Bronsted acid sites generated by the well dispersed WOx domains, as observed by FT-IR pyridine desorption