Characterization of zirconium sulfate supported on TiO2 and activity for acid catalysis

A series of Zr(SO4)(2)/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by impregnation of powder TiO2 with an aqueous solution of zirconium sulfate. No diffraction line of zirconium sulfate was observed up to 30 wt%, indicating good dispersion of Zr(SO4), on the surface of TiO2. The high catalytic activities of Zr(SO4)(2)/TiO2 for both 2-propanol dehydration and cumene dealkylation were related to the increase of acidity and acid strength due to the addition of Zr(SO4)(2). Zr(SO4)(2)/TiO2 containing 25% zirconium sulfate and calcined at 400 degreesC exhibited maximum catalytic activities for 2-propanol dehydration and cumene dealkylation. The catalytic activities for these reactions were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by the ammonia chemisorption method.