Synthesis and characterization of chromium(III)-doped magnesium fluoride catalysts Original Research Article

Cr3+-doped MgF2 systems are synthesised by a novel non-aqueous soft chemistry route using different Cr precursors and varying Cr loading. These systems have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, TPD of ammonia, FT-IR pyridine adsorption analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and tested for their catalytic activity in dismutation of CCl2F2 and CF3–CHClF. Catalysts synthesised starting from CrO3 or (CH3CO2)7Cr3(OH)2 showed better catalytic activity than those prepared with CrCl3. FT-IR pyridine adsorption studies reveal that the catalytic activity is highly correlated with the Lewis acid strength. In TPD of NH3 catalysts prepared from CrO3 and (CH3CO2)7Cr3(OH)2, precursors showed a similar behaviour, different from that of catalysts prepared from CrCl3.