Transition metal oxide pillared clay: 5. Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic activity of iron-chromium mixed oxide pillared montmorillonite

A mixed iron-chromium pillared montmorillonite was prepared using the trinu clear acetato complexes of iron and chromium as the pillaring agents. By ch anging the iron to chromium ratio in the complex solution it was possible t o change the metal ratio in the pillared material. The samples were charact erised by low angle XRD, TG-DSC, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption experim ents. All the materials are stable up to 773 K with the basal spacing of gr eater than or equal to 16.8 Angstrom. Catalytic activity values of the mate rials are evaluated using methanol and cumene conversion reaction as probe reactions. For methanol conversion reaction, with increasing iron content i n the samples, hydrocarbon selectivity decreases, while the selectivity of decomposition product (CO+CH4) increases. Samples calcined at 773 K can be used as catalysts for hydrocarbon dehydrogenation reaction with high select ivity. The iron to chromium ratio seems to controls the dehydrogenation sel ectivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.