Effect the solvent evacuation mode on the catalytic properties of nickel-modified sulfated zirconia catalysts: n-hexane isomerization

Abstract

This work studies the effect of the evacuation mode of the solvent to optimize the catalytic performances of sulfated zirconia doped with nickel prepared by the sol gel method in one step. Aerogel and xerogel catalysts exhibit different textural, structural and catalytic properties at various calcination temperatures. Aerogels, obtained by drying under supercritical conditions of solvent, exhibit a developed specific surface area and stabilize zirconia tetragonal phase before heating and even at high calcination temperature. However, xerogels obtained by ordinary drying in an oven are amorphous and has a low surface area and weak porosity. XPS spectroscopy shows that the nickel in aerogels is more reducible than those in xerogels. Aerogels exhibit higher activity than the xerogels, in the n-hexane isomerization reaction.