Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Solid acid catalysts of 12-Molybdophosphoric acid (MoP) supported on hydrous zirconia have been synthesized using impregnation method. Structural transformations due to thermal effects have been studied by different techniques including X-Ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared absorption (DRIFT), Raman spectroscopy and 31P MAS NMR. These techniques showed that the heteropolyacid present undegraded Keggin structure. The transformation of heteropoly anion of pure HPMo to MoO3 begins at a temperature lower than that for its ZrO2-supported counterpart. The activity of ZrO2-supported (MoP-Z) catalysts in the 2-propanol decomposition presents a high selectivity to the formation of DIPE and propene, this selectivity is related with acid sites determined by thermodesorption (TPD) of NH3.