Size-controlled synthesis of ZrO2-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared via reverse micelle method Investigation of particle size effect on the catalytic performance in vapor phase Beckmann rearrangement

Zirconium-titanium mixed oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized using microreactors made of bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT)/water/n-hexane microemulsions. The control of particle size was achieved by varying the process variables, such as water-to-surfactant molar ratio and reagent concentration. Their sizes, appearances, crystal structures, pore diameter and surface area were characterized by TEM, XRD, N-2 adsorption/desorption methods. The results revealed that samples prepared in reverse micelles had no crystalline phase. The Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime on ZrO2-TiO2 nanoparticles was carried out in a fixed-bed down flow reactor to investigate the effect of particle size on catalytic activity and selectivity. Samples synthesized in reverse micelles had better reaction performance than samples prepared via sol-gel method. A parallel relationship could be drawn between the catalytic activity and the particle size as well as the selectivity of the catalyst. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.