Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol.249, No.1, 104-112, 2002
Effect of mordenite dealumination on the structure of encapsulated molybdenum catalysts
A series of dealuminated mordenites treated under various conditions of acid leaching was impregnated in an aqueous solution of ammonium heptamolybdate to achieve a loading of 12 wt% Mo. These samples were characterized by XRD, UV-DRS, N-2 adsorption, TGA, and FTIR techniques. Special attention was given to the far-IR measurements and IR study of surface hydroxyl groups before and after dealumination. A polymolybdate species was recognized by the appearance of bands at 344, 319, and 236 (229) cm(-1) due to the vibrational modes of delta(Mo-O) and delta(Mo-O-Mo), respectively. The disappearance of the 236 cm(-1) band as well as that at 344 cm(-1) in favor of the 319 cm(-1) band, with the dealumination, was related to the high dispersion of Mo species in the produced mesopore surface assessed by the N-2 adsorption at 77 K. No bands due to bulk MoO3 were detected from the IR and XRD results. A strong interaction between Mo species and dealuminated mordenite surfaces (OH groups) was recognized by a decrease in intensity and a marked shift of the band at 3745 to 3727 cm(-1) as well as the appearance of a new band at 3668 cm(-1). The latter band was produced by the interaction of the framework At-OH with Mo species. The BET surface areas of Mo-dealuminated mordenite samples were higher than the corresponding Mo-free ones. The diffuse reflectance measurements suggested that Mo cations are predominantly present as an octahedrally coordinated Mo6+, along with some tetrahedral Mo6+. New spectral features as a consequence of dealumination events in the far-IR range were evaluated and discussed.