Thermolysis of Ru(acac)(3) supported on silica and alumina

Precursors of alumina- and silica-supported ruthenium catalysts were prepar ed by pore volume impregnation of the dehydrated supports with a benzene so lution of Ru(acac)(3). The prepared samples were characterized by diffuse r eflectance FTIR and TG/DTG-DTA in order to discriminate Ru(acac)(3) which i nteracts with the support surface. Weight loss, experimentally observed upo n thermolysis of parent and supported Ru(acac)(3), was compared with that c alculated using the proposed reaction stoichiometry. Conditions for activat ing silica- and alumina-supported Ru(acac)(3) in an oxidizing atmosphere wi th complete removal of acetylacetonate ligands from the catalyst precursor are recommended. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.