Unpromoted and K2O-promoted cobalt molybdate as catalysts for the decomposition of acetic acid

Unpromoted cobalt molybdate was prepared from Co(NO3)(2).6H(2)O and (NH4)6Mo(7)O(24).4H(2)O, then calcined between 350 and 600degreesC for 5 h. K2O (10 w%), as a promoter, was added to the calcined sample at 350degreesC from two different sources (i.e. KOH and KNO3) and was subjected to further calcination at 350degreesC for 5 h. The catalytic activity of unpromoted catalysts towards the vapour phase decomposition of CH3COOH was greatly influenced by the increase in the calcination temperature. This is attributed to the diminution of both S-BET and their dual acidic-basic characters. The promoted sample from the KOH source was found to be the most active of the catalysts studied. This is due to its high population of both acidic-basic surface sites and the formation of two new phases. XRD and FTIR analyses of the used catalysts, after the decomposition reaction of acetic acid, showed a remarkable change in its structure compared with the parent samples.