Zirconium Phosphate Catalysts in the XXI Century: State of the Art from 2010 to Date

Monica Pica

doi:10.3390/catal7060190

Abstract

An overview on the developments of zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and its organic derivatives in heterogeneous catalysis in recent years is reported in the present review. Two basic aspects have been emphasized: first, the catalytic properties of zirconium phosphates were discussed, with particular attention to the effect of surface acidity and hydrophobic/hydrophilic character, textural properties, and particle morphology on the catalytic performances. Then, the use of zirconium phosphates as support for catalytic active species was reported, including organometallic complexes, metal ions, noble metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles. Zirconium phosphate plays, in those cases, a dual role, since it promotes the dispersion and stabilization of the catalysts, thanks to their interaction with the active sites on the surface of ZrP, and facilitates the recovery and reuse of the catalytic species due to their immobilization on the solid support.

Highlights

The chemistry of tetravalent metal phosphates and phosphonates has passed through the last sixty years, leaving important footprints in many fields
In order to better understand the roles of zirconium phosphates in heterogeneous catalysis, the review will open with an introductory paragraph, describing its structural features, the synthetic approaches, and the functionalization strategies
Two sections will be devoted to the use of zirconium phosphates in catalysis; the first section deals with the role as catalyst itself in acid-catalyzed reactions, while the second investigates the use of zirconium phosphate as support for catalytic active species

Summary

Introduction

The chemistry of tetravalent metal phosphates and phosphonates has passed through the last sixty years, leaving important footprints in many fields. The key topic of this special issue is the use of zirconium phosphates in catalysis and this mini-review aims to collect the main contributions in this field since 2010 to date. The presence of a robust inorganic structure which enables its application in relatively high temperature reactions; the presence of active sites on the particle surface whose features can be tuned according to the desired properties, by controlling the synthetic conditions or by introducing suitable functional groups covalently bonded the particle surface; they can be Bronsted acid or basic sites, Lewis basic sites, or metal coordinating sites. The possibility to control the textural properties, the surface area, and the porosity degree All these aspects are fundamental to the design of an efficient solid catalyst. Starting from the state of the art, this special issue gives the opportunity to take a look at the future of zirconium phosphate-based catalysis, thanks to the original contributions of the authors that have been involved in it

Zirconium Phosphate

Chemical

Findings

Conclusions and Future Perspectives