PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A PRASEODYMIUM OXIDE TO BE USED AS A CATALYTIC SUPPORT

This work reports on the preparation and characterization of a praseodymia sample to be used as a support for highly dispersed metals. The oxide sample was prepared by decomposing in a flow of helium, at 973 K, the phase obtained by precipitation with ammonia from a solution of Pr(NO3)3. The preparation conditions were established after investigating the thermal evolution of the precursor phase by thermogrammetric analysis, temperature-programmed decomposition-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Data corresponding to the textural and chemical characterization studies carried out on the oxide are also presented and discussed.