Acidity/basicity and electron donor properties and catalytic activity of sulphated titania

The surface acidity/ basicity of TiO2 (rutile) and its sulphate modified fo rm have been determined by titration method using Hammett indicators after activation at different temperatures. The electron donating properties of t hese oxides are also studied from the adsorption of electron accepters of d ifferent electron affinity values. The data have been correlated with the c atalytic activity of these oxides towards esterification of acetic acid usi ng n-butanol, reduction of cyclohexanone in isopropanol and oxidation of cy clohexanol in benzophenone. Catalytic activity for esterification and oxida tion reaction parallels the acidity while that for reduction reaction paral lels the basicity of these oxides.