Solid Metal Oxide Catalysts: Synthesis and Characterisation

Abstract

Metal oxide particles have been studied by many researchers as potential catalysts for the production of biofuel. However, better understanding of catalysts preparation and characterisation are essential. A series of solid metal oxide catalysts were synthesised by chemical precipitation method using metal salt precursor such as magnesium nitrate hexahydrate, (Mg(NO3)2.6H2O), copper (II) nitrate tryhidrate (Cu(NO3)2.3H2O) and nickel nitrate hexahydrate, (Ni(NO3)2.6H2O ). The synthesised catalysts before and after calcination were further characterised using Thermal Gravity Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. Higher catalytic activity and higher production of biofuel may benefits from this higher surface area metal oxide catalysts synthesis by precipitation method in this work.