The Preparation of Group II Oxide Catalysts Through Acetate Calcination: The Influence of a Support on the Nature of the Final Catalyst.

The preparation of supported and unsupported group II oxide catalysts through oxidation of analogous group II acetates (Mg, Ca and Ba) in the presence and absence of a mesoporous silica material (SBA-15) was analysed using TGA. In the absence of the mesoporous support the acetates oxidised at different temperatures with a stability trend whereby Mg<Ca<Ba. The Mg and Ca salts were totally converted into the analogous oxides following treatment to 750°C (albeit with different routes of conversion) while Ba(CH3CO2)2 was converted into BaCO3.Once dispersed onto SBA-15, all acetates combusted at similar temperatures irrespective of the counter-ion (indicating its nature was less important). The counterion also inverted the nature of the final material with, in this case, BaO and substantial amounts of CaO forming but MgCO3 being the product of Mg(CH3CO2)2combustion.