One-step synthesis of mesoporous sulfated zirconia nanoparticles with anionic template

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 29; no. 10; pp. 1285 - 1288
• Main Authors: Pu, Hongping, Zhang, Liuyi, Du, Dongquan, Han, Caiyun, Li, Hongyin, Li, Jiangyan, Luo, Yongming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.10.2012; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Rapid Communication; 화학공학; Nanoparticles; Sulfated Zirconia; Transesterification; Porous Materials; One-step Route
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-012-0074-4

Mesoporous sulfated zirconia nanoparticles (MSZNP) with high surface area have been synthesized by using sodium dodecyl sulfate (C 12 H 25 OSO 3 Na, SDS), both as a template and a sulfating agent via one-step route. On the basis of FT-IR, EDS together with NH 3 -TPD analyses, the SO 4 2− anion, originated from the hydrophilic head of SDS, can be incorporated into ZrO 2 to form MSZNP with super-acidity. The phase transition of ZrO 2 from tetragonal to monoclinic phase was effectively inhibited by the presence of SO 4 2− , and the formation mechanism was illustrated in detail. MSZNP (550) achieved far higher activity than CSZ (550) in transesterification of soybean oil with methanol due to the synergistic effect of strong acidity, high BET surface area and the formation of mesostructure.