Abstract:
Sulfated titania (TiO2-SO42-) aerogel has been prepared through one-step synthesis by
the sol-gel method using sulfuric acid as catalyst followed by the one-step CO2 supercritical
extraction. Highly porous aerogel with a large surface area (469m2/g) and high porosity
(pore volume 1.6cm3/g) has been obtained. Thermal evolution of the gels were evaluated by
TGA-DTA, N2 adsorption, TEM and XRD, and the IR absorption spectra measurements
were made to discuss the structure of sulfated titania. The anatase phase is stable after
calcination at temperatures up to 700oC, and the specific surface area, total pore volume
and average pore diameter of anatase phase do not change significantly after calcination at
600oC. Thermally stable and highly acidic sulfated titania aerogel is attractive as catalyst.
The catalytic activity of the sulfated anatase shows better ability than Zeolite for application
as a catalyst for etherification reaction of oleic acid (C18H34O2) with glycerol (C3H8O3)
to produce glycerol mono oleate.
