MAGNESIA SYNTHESIS VIA SOL-GEL - STRUCTURE AND REACTIVITY

2-Propanol decomposition at 200 degrees C on magnesium oxide prepared by the hydrolysis of magnesium ethoxide (sol-gel method) is reported. With hydrochloride acid, acetic acid, or ammonia as hydrolysis alkoxid e catalysts, the acidity and the selectivity to propene of the catalys ts follow the sequence, MgO (HCl) > MgO (acetic acid) > MgO (ammonia). In contrast, the basicity of the samples, defined as the ratio dehydr ogenation rate/dehydration rate, is found to be depending on the parti cle size of the catalysts. The basicity trend found is MgO (acetic aci d) > MgO (ammonia) > MgO (HCl) and it correlates well with the particl e size determined by the Rietveld refinement.