Influence of alumina addition on structural and catalytic properties of sulphated zirconia in isomerization of n-hexane

New binary catalytic systems based on sulphated zirconia-alumina were synthesized by controlled hydrolysis of alkoxides using relative molar ratios of constituents 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 in favour of zirconia. The obtained differences in the final catalytic material's properties may be related to organic precursor memory effect, the applied calcinations temperatures and used alumina contents. The addition of alumina to zirconia affected the structural and surface properties stabilizing bare zirconia by means of slower phase transformation of tetragonal zirconia crystal phase into monoclinic one, further resulting in smaller crystallites sizes and higher surface density of acidic function (sulphates). The best alumina impact on physico-chemical properties was achieved when the highest amount of alumina (e.g. 50%) and lower calcination temperature (500 degrees C) were used, causing relatively high steady-state activity in isomerization of n-hexane at reaction temperature 250 degrees C. On the other hand, higher calcination temperature (600 degrees C) played a role in the genesis of greater sulphate density. Catalytic activity and selectivity are expressed as a complex synergistic function of relative density of acid sites together with positive status of other optimized physico-chemical properties of the catalytic material (by activation and calcination temperatures).