REACTIVITY OF SIMPLE ALCOHOLS ON FE2O3 POWDERS - AN XPS AND FTIR STUDY

The interaction between alpha-Fe2O3 powders and methanol, ethanol, pro pan-1-ol and butan-1-ol has been studied by means of FTIR and XPS. Mas s spectrometry has been used to characterise the volatile products. Me thanol is chemisorbed mainly dissociatively whereas molecular chemisor ption is prevalent in higher alcohols. When methanol is chemisorbed, h eating induces the formation of formate (at temperatures > 400 K) whil e hydrocarbons are the main products (at temperatures > 500 K) of the other alcohols. Considerations are made concerning surface acidic site s in connection with the thermal treatment of the sample and with alco hol chemisorption.