Preparation of new solid super-acid catalyst, titanium sulfate supported on zirconia and its acid catalytic properties

Titanium sulfate supported on zirconia catalysts were prepared by drying of powdered Zr(OH)(4) with titanium sulfate aqueous solution followed by calcining in air at high temperature. The characterization of prepared catalysts was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and by the measurement of surface area. The addition of titanium sulfate to zirconia shifted the phase transition of ZrO2 from amorphous to tetragonal to higher temperature because of the interaction between titanium sulfate and zirconia. The catalytic activities for both reactions, 2-propanol dehydration and cumene dealkylation were correlated with the acidity of catalysts measured by ammonia chemisorption method.