A study on the preparation of supported metal oxide catalysts using JRC-reference catalysts. I. Preparation of a molybdena-alumina catalyst. Part 3. Drying process

In the present part of the group study on the preparation of 13 wt% MoO3/Al2O3, the effects of drying processes were investigated on the physicochemical and catalytic properties. Two series of catalysts were prepared by a conventional impregnation technique and by an equilibrium adsorption method using a common extrudate support, XPS and EPMA results demonstrated that the distribution of Mo oxide species in extrudates was strongly affected by drying processes. A rapid drying, in particular at a reduced pressure, was found to induce a strong segregation of Mo oxides on the outer surface of the extrudates, forming a sharp egg shell type distribution of Mo. On the other hand, drying under static conditions produced a moderate egg shell type distribution, suggesting that a slow drying rate is favorable for a homogeneous distribution of Mo. The equilibrium adsorption technique was found to provide considerably flat Mo profiles inside the extrudates except for the utmost surfaces where Mo concentrations increased steeply. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.