Reactivity of simple alcohols on Fe2O3powders An XPS and FTIR study

Abstract

The interaction between α-Fe₂O₃ powders and methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and butan-1-ol has been studied by means of FTIR and XPS. Mass spectrometry has been used to characterise the volatile products. Methanol is chemisorbed mainly dissociatively whereas molecular chemisorption is prevalent in higher alcohols. When methanol is chemisorbed, heating induces the formation of formate (at temperatures >400 K) while hydrocarbons are the main products (at temperatures >500 K) of the other alcohols. Considerations are made concerning surface acidic sites in connection with the thermal treatment of the sample and with alcohol chemisorption.