Preparation and characterisation of pillared material base catalysts for environmental applications

The preparation, of a fluorinated alumina pillared alpha-zirconium phosphate has been performed via intercaluation of polyoxy-aluminium clusters under hydrothermal conditions. Characterisation techniques including adsorption of N-2, XPS, XRD, ammomia, thermal programmed desorption, thermal programmed reduction with H-2, and pyridine adsorption indicate that this pillared solid is porous, acidic and presents a strong linkage between the phosphato layer and the cluster. This, pillared material is an adequate support for metallic Ni and Rh catalysts, and-for metallic sulfided catalysts such as Ni, Rh and Ni-Mo-sulfides. The catalytic behaviour of the catalysts for the hydrogenation of tetralin with the presence of dibenzothiophene has been studied.