Characterization and acid catalytic properties of NiO supported on ZrO2 and modified with MoO3

Nickel oxide supported on zirconia and modified with MoO3 for acid catalysis was prepared by drying powdered Ni(OH)(2)-Zr(OH)(4) with ammonium heptamolybdate aqueous solution, followed by calcining in air at high temperature. The characterization of prepared catalysts was performed using FTIR, Raman, XRD, and DSC. MoO3 equal to or less than 15 wt% was dispersed on the surface of catalyst as two-dimensional polymolybdate or monomolybdate, while for MoO3 above 15 wt%, crystalline orthorhombic phase of MoO3 was formed. The high acid strength and acidity were responsible for the Mo=O bond nature of the complex formed by the interaction between MoO3 and ZrO2. The catalytic activity for cumene dealkylation was correlated with the acidity of the catalyst measured by the ammonia chemisorption method.