Preparation and characterization of TiO2 incorporated Y-zeolite

A preparation of TiO2-dispersed Y-zeolite has been attempted by a method comprising a substantial ion-exchange of ammonium titanyl oxalate (NH4)(2)TiO(C2O4)(2) and its decomposition. The modification of Y-zeolite was well controlled from the viewpoint of the incorporated amount of TiO2. The framework of Y-zeolite was retained through the modification and TiO2 was incorporated in the form of anatase microcrystals. Titanium species bound to the framework through Ti-O-Si bonds were also observed by IR analysis. The porosity change of Y-zeolite by the TiO2 modification was analyzed by N-2 adsorption at 77 K, and the pore size of TiO2 modified Y-zeolite proved to increase with the amount of incorporated TiO2. Photolysis of ethanol to give methane was enhanced by the TiO2-dispersed Y-zeolite; the rate of reaction in the Pt-TiO2-zeolite system of an appropriate amount of TiO2 was more than five times that in a conventional Pt-TiO2 system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.