Influence of promoted and unpromoted decomposition products of ammonium metavanadate on the pyrolysis of NaClO2

The solid decomposition product of NH4VO3, at 500°C in N2 atmosphere for 8h, is considered here as unpromoted catalyst for the thermal decomposition of NaClO2. The same product when mixed with 10% (w/w) P2O5 or K2O with further heating at 500°C for 8h in N2, are considered as the promoted catalysts for NaClO2 decomposition. These prepared catalysts were characterized by IR and XRD analyses. The surface area of these catalysts were determined using BET method. Also, their acidity and basicity were estimated thermogravimetrically using pyridine and formic acid as probe molecules. Reactivity of the three catalysts during the pyrolysis of NaClO 2 was examined using thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and gasometric analysis. The intermediate and the final products of the pyrolysis of NaClO2 mixed with those catalysts were examined using XRD analysis. Correlation was found between the catalysts reactivity, during the pyrolysis of NaClO2, and their structure and the intensity of their surface basic sites. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.