Structure and catalytic properties of Sn-containing layered double hydroxides synthesized in the presence of dodecylsulfate and dodecylamine

Sn(IV)-containing layered double hydroxide (LDHs) materials were synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method using organic surfactants (sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and/or dodecylamine (DDA)) at mild temperatures. All the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Their catalytic properties were evaluated using a batch reactor system for the conversion of oleic acid. The experimental results show that the interlayer arrangements of the dodecylsulfate anions were consistent with a vertical bilayer arrangement, and that the nature of the synthesizing organic surfactant used greatly influenced the texture and morphology of synthetic Sn(IV)-containing LDH materials. Moreover, the presence of MgSn(OH)6 species in the synthesized materials favored the conversion of oleic acid, while the sample synthesized under the presence of the organic surfactant showed an improvement on the selectivity of stearic acid.