Synthesis, characterization and catalytic application for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation of an iron pillared clay

New iron pillared clays were synthesized from a smectite sample collected from a Venezuelan clay bed. An oxocentered trinuclear iron (III) acetate aquo complex was chosen as an intercalating cation. The obtained solids were characterized by XRD, nitrogen physisorption (specific surface area and pore size distribution), chemical composition. thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and scanning electron microscopy, The obtained pillared clays showed specific surface areas ranging from 118 to 232 m(2)/g, and interlayer distances between 17.09 and 18.31 Angstrom. The clays were thermally stable and catalytically active in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.