Surface reactivity of aluminas prepared by different techniques

The reaction of atmospheric hydrocarbon on the surface of various alumina s amples has been compared with the surface acidity of the samples. It was fo und by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy that adsorbed hydrocarbons were deh ydrogenated on some samples, and that the extent of dehydrogenation was dep endent on alumina precursor and calcination temperature. The surface acidit y of the samples was investigated by temperature programmed desorption, usi ng ammonia and propan-2-ol as probe molecules. The dehydrogenation reactivi ty for the samples was found to be dependent on surface acidity of the samp les. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.