ABSTRACT

A methodology for the determination of the surface coverage of alumina-supported metal oxide catalysts is described. The methodology is based on the joint use of two techniques: Low Temperature CO Adsorption and Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (ISS). Both approaches for coverage measurements are based on monitoring the changes in a signal due to the support (CO uptake by the support and ISS Al signal, respectively) on deposition of the supported phase.

The proposed methodology was applied for the measurements of the surface coverage of alumina-supported Mo, Re and W catalysts obtained by the equilibrium adsorption method. Comparable values were obtained from both methods (CO adsorption and ISS). The joint use of the techniques is recommended because of the inherent limitations of each method.