Correlation between the reactivity and the structural and thermal properties of supported metal nitrates

Montmorillonite-supported iron(III) nitrate and copper(II) nitrate reagents, and other supported metal nitrates prepared in the same way, were investigated by thermal and X-ray powder diffraction methods. The metal nitrates are present on the support in the form of crystalline hydrate and not as acetone solvate as supposed earlier. Thermal decomposition of metal nitrates that are active in model reactions proceeds in a different way from that of the practically inactive nitrates. In the former case, water release and nitrate decomposition itself are simultaneous process. These and other results contributed to determination of suitable reaction conditions for the montmorillonite-supported reagents.