Effect of the surface charge on the complexing and catalytic properties of Cu2+-containing composite materials based on zirconia and powdered cellulose

Abstract

Composite materials (CMs) based on zirconia xerogels and powdered cellulose (PC) were synthesized. The effect of the CM surface charge on their complexing properties with respect to Cu2+ ions and on the catalytic activity of the samples in model reactions of the decomposition of H2O 2 and the oxidative dehydrogenation of trimethylhydroquinone with atmospheric oxygen was analyzed. It was experimentally proved that the use of PC for the synthesis of ZrO2-based CMs, as in the case of previously studied CMs based on SiO2 and TiO2, leads to an increase in the specific surface area Ssp and a decrease in the negative electric potential of their surface. The surface charge, sorption method, and the composition of the buffer solution used for sorption have a significant effect on the copper(II) content in the CM phase, the distribution pattern, and the composition of the sorbed copper(II) compounds and on the catalytic activity of the synthesized Cu2+-containing CMs. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2014.