Sucrose inversion on sulfated Zirconia SO42-/ZrO2 and Niobium Oxide Nb(2)O5 center dot nH(2)O

Catalytic properties of Sulfated Zirconia (SZ) and Niobium Oxide (NBO), in sucrose inversion reaction to obtain invert sugar were studied. The reaction was performed in two types of solvents: water or water: ethanol (50: 50). Materials were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen Physisorption, Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR). The results showed an important influence of the solvent on the catalytic activity for both catalysts. It was found that SZ had a higher conversion (%) corresponding to 98% in water: ethanol opposite trend than NBO, which exhibited better catalytic activity in water solvent with a conversion (%) of 66%, such behavior can be assigned to the possible conservation of structural stability of each of the catalysts in the solvents used. It was also showed a higher selectivity at 100 % to the interest product when NBO was used, it is attributed to acid-tolerant properties in polar liquids, while SZ caused a consequent degradation of sucrose giving rise to the formation of secondary products of reaction and selectivity (%) around of 80%, due to the significant acidity as showed in the TPD results.