Surface and Catalytic Properties of γ-Irradiated Cr2O3/Al2O3 Solids

Abstract

Two samples of Cr2O3/Al2O3 were prepared by mixing a known mass of finely powdered Al(OH)3 with a calculated amount of CrO3 solid followed by drying at 120°C and calcination at 400°C. The amounts of chromium oxide employed were 5.66 and 20 mol% Cr2O3, respectively. The calcined solid specimens were then treated with different doses of γ-rays (20–160 Mrad). The surface and catalytic properties of the different irradiated solids were investigated using nitrogen adsorption at −196°C and the catalysis of CO oxidation by O2 at 300–400°C. The results revealed that γ-rays brought about a slight decrease in the BET surface area, SBET (15%), and in the total pore volume, Vp (20%), of the adsorbent containing 5.66 mol% Cr2O3. The same treatment increased the total pore volume, Vp (36%), and the mean pore radius, r̄ (43%), of the other adsorbent sample without changing its BET surface area. The catalytic activities of both catalyst samples were found to increase as a function of dose, reaching a maximum value at 80–160 Mrad and 40 Mrad for the solids containing 5.66 and 20 mol% Cr2O3, respectively. The maximum increase in the catalytic activity measured at 300°C was 59% and 100% for the first and second catalyst samples, respectively. The induced effect of γ-irradiation on the catalytic activity was an increase in the concentration of catalytically active sites taking part in chemisorption and in the catalysis of CO oxidation by O2 without changing their energetic nature. This was achieved by a progressive removal of surface hydroxy groups during the irradiation process.