Preparation of sol-gel sulfated ZrO2single bondSiO2 and characterization of its surface acidity Original Research Article

Zrsingle bondSi mixed oxides containing 1.3 to 6.7 wt.-% Zr have been prepared by a sol-gel technique, using tetraethoxysilane and zirconium acetate as precursors. Zirconium is incorporated into the lattice of silica, but can easily be extracted either by self steaming or by acid treatment. The solids obtained in basic medium show a low surface area and low acidity. The samples prepared in acidic medium show large surface areas between 410 and 740 m2/g and can be converted to strong acids by contact with a solution of sulfuric acid. They retain pyridine up to 773 K and contain a total number of acid sites comparable to that of HY zeolites i.e. 1.7 meq/g. The catalytic activity for the bifunctional isomerization of n-hexane expressed per gram of zirconium is comparable for the sample containing 4wt.-% Zr and sulfated zirconia.