Adsorption and conductivity studies in oxychlorination catalysis. Part 1.—Physical characterisation of the catalyst

Abstract

The copper chloride catalyst system has been physically characterised using nitrogen adsorption, mercury porosimetry and small-angle neutron scattering. The alumina support has a specific surface area of 205 m² g^–1, with a relatively small contribution from its internal surface. The pore-size distribution curve indicates that the internal surface is composed mainly of mesopores, but with ca. 15% micropores. Impregnation and drying reduces the area to 91 m² g^–1, and exposure to water vapour reduces this further to 76 m² g^–1. The neutron measurements give a close fit to the Porod law, showing that the catalyst and support are generally well defined monodisperse systems.