Effect of the method of preparation on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of nanosized Fe2O3/MgO

Fe2O3/MgO systems were prepared by the incipient impregnation, coprecipitation, and hydrothermal techniques. The solids obtained were calcined at 500–900 °C then characterized by use of XRD and EDX, by measurement of specific surface area (SBET), and by use as catalysts for H2O2 decomposition. The catalysts contained the nanosized MgO phase in addition to the MgFe2O4 phase. The concentration of surface iron species was highest for catalysts prepared by the coprecipitation method; these catalysts also had the highest specific surface area. The lattice constant of the MgO lattice in the Fe2O3/MgO system depends on both the method of preparation and calcination temperature. Catalysts prepared by the hydrothermal method were most active in H2O2 decomposition. The apparent activation energy and the mechanism of this reaction were not altered by variation of the method of preparation.