Surface properties and catalytic activity of pure and silica-coated aluminas

The surface properties of predominantly microporous, mesoporous, and nonporous alumina samples were studied and compared with samples modified by coating with a fixed amount of silica on their surfaces. The samples were characterized in terms of their specific surface areas, pore structure, and the chemistry of the surface, namely, surface acidity and surface OHs. An attempt was made to relate the activity toward cumene cracking with the chemistry as well as the predominant pore size. This study will hopefully reveal the role of the pore structure of alumina in determining its adsorption and catalytic activity and also the effect of doping with silica in modifying the surface properties of alumina.