NiO/La2O3-ZrO2/WO3 Catalyst Prepared by Doping ZrO2 with La2O3 and Modifying with WO3 for Acid Catalysis

A series of catalysts, $NiO/La_2O_3-ZrO_2/WO_3$, for acid catalysis was prepared by the precipitation and impregnation methods. For the $NiO/La_2O_3-ZrO_2/WO_3$ samples, no diffraction lines of nickel oxide were observed, indicating good dispersion of nickel oxide on the catalyst surface. The catalyst was amorphous to X-ray diffraction up to 300 ${^{\circ}C}$ of calcination temperature, but the tetragonal phase of $ZrO_2$ and monoclinic phase of $WO_3$ by the calcination temperatures from 400 ${^{\circ}C}$ to 700 ${^{\circ}C}$ were observed. The role of $La_2O_3$ in the catalyst was to form a thermally stable solid solution with zirconia and consequently to give high surface area and acidity. The high acid strength and high acidity were responsible for the W=O bond nature of complex formed by the modification of $ZrO_2$ with $WO_3$. For 2-propanol dehydration the catalyst calcined at 400 ${^{\circ}C}$ exhibited the highest catalytic activity, while for cumene dealkylation the catalyst calcined at 600 ${^{\circ}C}$ showed the highest catalytic activity. 25-$NiO/5-La_2O_3-ZrO_2/15-WO_3$ exhibited maximum catalytic activities for two reactions due to the effects of $WO_3$ modifying and $La_2O_3$ doping.