Different dispersions of group II catalysts over SBA 15 and MCM-41: Effects on transesterification reactivity

Activities of CaO catalysts on SBA-15 and MCM-41 have been compared in transesterification and SBA-15 supported samples invariably more active than those on MCM-41. Increased activity is not due to diffusional effects (as measured using substrates of differing size) but rather to increased dispersion of CaO on SBA-15 (as measured using NOx TPD). The effect, i.e. increased reactivity of SBA-15 supported catalysts being related to increased dispersion, is also noted in supported BaO catalysts while supported MgCO3 catalysts show little variation in dispersion (or in reactivity) as a function of the support used.