Oxidation superacidic metal oxides

Preparation of Superacidic Metal Oxides and Their Catalytic Action... 

Superacidic metal oxides prepared by calcination at a high temperature can be used at elevated temperatures and, thus, provide new trends for developing environmentally benign processes. Superacidity is generated on the oxides of Fe, Ti, Zr, Hf, Sn, Si, and A1 by treatment with sulfate, tungstate, and molybdate. Sulfated and tungstated zirconias have attracted much attention as potential catalysts the latter are thermally stable superacids and can be calcined at temperatures above 1000°C. 

Out of the metal oxides, sulfated titania and tin oxide performed slightly better than the sulfated zirconia (SZ) catalyst and niobic acid (Nb205). However, SZ is cheaper and readily available on an industrial scale. Moreover, it is already applied in several industrial processes (7,8). Zirconia can be modified with sulfate ions to form a superacidic catalyst, depending on the treatment conditions (11-16). In our experiments, SZ showed high activity and selectivity for the esterification of fatty acids with a variety of alcohols, from 2-ethylhexanol to methanol. Increasing... 

Metal oxides, 31 78-79, 89, 102, 123, 157-158, 191, 32 199-121 see also Amorphous metal oxides Sulfate-supported metal oxides specific oxides adsorbed oxygen on, 27 196-198 binary, surface acidity, 27 136-138 catalytic etching, 41 390-396 coordination number, 27 136 electrocatalysts, 40 127-128 Fe3(CO)i2 reaction with, 38 311-314 Lewis acid-treated, 37 169-170 multiply-valent metals, electrocatalytic oxidations, 40 154-157 superacids by, 37 201-204 surface acidity, methods for determining, 27 121... 

The tendency in the past decades has been to replace them with solid acids (Figure 13.1). These solid acids could present important advantages, decreasing reactor and plant corrosion problems (with simpler and safer maintenance), and favoring catalyst regeneration and environmentally safe disposal. This is the case of the use of zeolites, amorphous sihco-aluminas, or more recently, the so-called superacid solids, that is, sulfated metal oxides, heteropolyoxometalates, or nation (Figure 13.1). It is clear that the well-known carbocation chemistry that occurs in liquid-acid processes also occurs on the sohd-acid catalysts (similar mechanisms have been proposed in both catalyst types) and the same process variables that control liquid-acid reactions also affect the solid catalyst processes. 

Several metal oxides could be used as acid catalysts, although zeolites and zeo-types are mainly preferred as an alternative to liquid acids (Figure 13.1). This is a consequence of the possibility of tuning the acidity of microporous materials as well as the shape selectivity observed with zeolites that have favored their use in new catalytic processes. However, a solid with similar or higher acid strength than 100% sulfuric acid (the so-called superacid materials) could be preferred in some processes. From these solid catalysts, nation, heteropolyoxometalates, or sulfated metal oxides have been extensively studied in the last ten years (Figure 13.2). Their so-called superacid character has favored their use in a large number of acid reactions alkane isomerization, alkylation of isobutene, or aromatic hydrocarbons with olefins, acylation, nitrations, and so forth. 

Different catalysts bring about different types of isomerization of hydrocarbons. Acids are the best known and most important catalysts bringing about isomerization through a carbocationic process. Brpnsted and Lewis acids, acidic solids, and superacids are used in different applications. Base-catalyzed isomerizations of hydrocarbons are less frequent, with mainly alkenes undergoing such transformations. Acetylenes and allenes are also interconverted in base-catalyzed reactions. Metals with dehydrogenating-hydrogenating activity usually supported on oxides are also used to bring about isomerizations. Zeolites with shape-selective characteristics... 

We believe that catalysis occurs by formation of a complex between acetaldehyde, peracetic acid, and the metal ion in the 3+ oxidation state. The metal ion could be acting as a superacid as for peracetic acid decomposition, although oxidation-reduction reactions within the complex cannot be ruled out. Here again, we have found a disturbing lack of catalytic activity of other trivalent metals (aluminum, iron, and chromium). Simple acid catalysis is not as effective as proved when using p-toluenesulfonic acid and acetyl borate. This indicates that at least more than one coordination position is needed to obtain a complex of the proper configuration. 

Solid superacids may be made by treating ordinary solid add catalysts with strong Br0nsted or Lewis acids. For example, if freshly precipitated titanium hydroxide or zirconium hydroxide is treated with sulfuric acid and calcined in air at 500 °C. a very active solid acid catalyst results. The solids consist mainly of the metal dioxides with sulfate ions coordinated to the metal ions on the surface. Likewise, a superacid solid catalyst can be made by treating these metal oxides with antimony penlafluonde. Both catalysts contain both Br nsted and Lewis acid sites, and they arc sufficiently active to catalyze the isomerization of n-butane at room temperature.26... 

The natural clay minerals are hydrous aluminum silicates with iron or magnesium replacing aluminum wholly or in part, and with alkali or alkaline earth metals present as essential constituents in some others. Their acidic properties and natural abundance have favored their use as catalysts for cracking of heavy petroleum fractions. With the exception of zeolites and some specially treated mixed oxides for which superacid properties have been claimed, the acidity as measured by the color changes of absorbed Hammett bases is generally far below the superacidity range. They are inactive for alkane isomerization and cracking below 100 °C and need co-acids to reach superacidity. 

---