Surface Characteristics and Cracking Activity of MoO3–AlPO4 Catalysts

Abstract

Pure AlPO4 and MoO3–AlPO4 impregnated catalysts of different compositions have been prepared. The catalysts were characterized using XRD and IR techniques. The textural properties were determined from nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The acidic properties of these catalysts were measured by the amine titration method. The cracking of cumene at flow rates of 20–60 ml/min and at 653–713 K was investigated over these catalysts. Loading AlPO4 with MoO3 leads to a significant change in texture, surface acidity and catalytic activity of the prepared catalysts. The cracking reaction over the investigated catalysts followed first-order kinetics with activation energies of between 8.0 and 20 kcal/mol. The cracking activity has been related to Brönsted acid sites present on the catalyst surface.