Evidence for Lewis and Brønsted acid sites on MgO obtained by sol-gel

Traditionally, magnesium oxide has been considered a typical basic catalyst, catalyst carrier and/or adsorbent. In this study MgO was prepared using Mg-ethoxide dissolved in ethanol and hydrolyzed with various aqueous inorganic acids and bases. We have found that it is possible to induce Brønsted and Lewis acid sites depending on the method of preparation and, more specifically, on the type of inorganic acids used in the hydrolysis stage. In the FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine on MgO obtained using aqueous HCI (pH = 3), the bands corresponding to Lewis (1603, 1496 and 1444 cm-1) and Brønsted (1550 cm-1) acid sites are observed. The fact that upon vacuum and high temperature treatment, i.e., at 773 K, the above mentioned bands are clearly distinguishable indicated that the acid sites are very strong. On the other hand, the MgO materials obtained using aqueous acetic acid as a hydrolysis catalyst (pH = 5), and that without any catalyst (pH = 7) showed only Lewis acid sites which decreased markedly upon higher temperature treatment. When aqueous NH4OH (pH = 9) was used as the hydrolysis catalyst, the MgO obtained showed only Lewis acid sites. In all cases the number of Lewis acid sites was greater than that of Brønsted sites.