APPLICATION OF SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY TO STUDY OF MORPHOLOGY OF MULTICOMPONENT CATALYST SYSTEMS

The morphology of multicomponent catalyst systems was investigated with the aid of the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The catalysts which were studied consisted of alumina, complex aluminates, and a mixture of both. These materials are used in the reduction of sulphur dioxide by methane to sulphur. Direct observations with the scanning electron microscope permitted the study of the effects of various thermal treatments on changes in the morphology with respect to pore geometry, topography and to both particle size and shape. It is shown that changes in the catalyst morphology - as resolvable by the SEM - are related to changes in catalytic activity. © 1969 Chapman and Hall.