# Preparation and Catalytic Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Authors: Hiroaki Onoda; Takeshi Sakumura
Journal: ISRN Ceramics
 (2012)

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## Abstract

Iron phosphate was prepared from iron nitrate and phosphoric acid with sodium dodecyl sulfate at various stirring hours. The chemical composition of the obtained samples was estimated from ICP and XRD measurements. Particle shape and size distribution were observed by SEM images and laser diffraction/scattering methods. Further, the catalytic activity was studied with the decomposition of the complex between formaldehyde, ammonium acetate, and acetylacetone. The peaks of FePO4 were observed in XRD patterns of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and then heated at 600°C. Other samples were amorphous in XRD patterns. Iron-cerium phosphates had high catalytic activity for the decomposition of the complex.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Phosphates have been used for ceramic materials, catalysts, fluorescent materials, dielectric substances, metal surface treatment, detergent, food additives, fuel cells, pigments, and so forth [1–3]. In these uses, catalyst is one of important applications of phosphate materials. Vanadium phosphate works as a catalyst for oxidation of butane [4]. Nickel phosphate works for oxidation of alcohol [5]. Iron phosphate works for oxidation of methane [6]. Aluminum phosphate works for dehydration of alcohol [7]. Other phosphates, zirconium, cobalt, potassium phosphates, and so on, are also important as a catalyst [8–10].Transition metal phosphates sometimes have the different ratio of cation/phosphorus with the theoretical ratio of chemical composition, because of hydrogen cation, hydroxide anion, and so on. These hydrogen cation and hydroxide anion have influence on the catalytic activity of phosphate materials, because of the formation of hydrogen site on surface. These transition metal phosphates work as solid state acidic catalyst. Therefore, the synthetic process is important to control the chemical composition of phosphate materials. Generally, the additives in preparation process were used to prepare the target particle of phosphate materials [11]. The spherical and porous particles of lanthanum phosphate were obtained by the addition of urea [12]. In this work, as an additive, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used to prevent the aggregation in preparation process, which was one of the common anionic surfactant.Transition metal phosphates have a weak point to solve in acidic and basic solutions. In previous work [13], the substitution with rare earth cation inhibited the elution of phosphates. Therefore, rare-earth-substituted iron phosphates have a possibility to use as a catalyst in solutions.In this work, iron-cerium phosphates were prepared form iron nitrate, ammonium cerium nitrate, and phosphoric acid with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The ratios of iron/cerium and sodium dodecyl sulfate/phosphorus were studied in this preparation. The obtained products were estimated from their particle shape, size distribution, and catalytic activity. The purpose in this work is to clear the influence of cerium substitution, SDS, and heating temperature on chemical composition and catalytic activity of iron phosphates.


## 2. Experimental Procedure

The 0.2 mol/L of iron nitrate, Fe(NO3)3, solution was mixed with 0.2 mol/L of phosphoric acid solution in the molar ratio of Fe/P = 1/1. This ratio is settled from the chemical composition of iron orthophosphate, FePO4. Then, the mixed solution was adjusted to pH 3 by ammonia solution. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was added to the mixed solution in SDS/P = 0/10, 1/10, and 2/10 to prevent the aggregation of particles. When sodium dodecyl sulfate was added before pH adjustment, the mass of particles was formed. Therefore, sodium dodecyl sulfate was added after pH adjustment. The phosphate particles were dispersed in the solution by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate after pH adjustment. Further, the mixed solution was stirred for 24 hours. The precipitate was decantated off and dried at 60°C in air condition. The cerium-substituted samples were also prepared to compare with iron phosphates. A part of iron nitrate was substituted with ammonium cerium nitrate, (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6, in Fe/Ce = 8/2. The four iron (+III) cations were replaced with three cerium (+IV) cation. In this work, the ratio of P/(3Fe + 4Ce) was 1/3. All chemicals were of guaranteed reagents from Wako Chemical Industries Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) without further purification.A part of the precipitates was dissolved in hydrochloric acid solution. The ratios of phosphorus, iron, and cerium in the precipitates were also calculated from Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) results of these solutions, using SPS1500VR, Seiko Instruments Inc. The thermal behavior of these materials was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD patterns were recorded on a Rigaku MiniFlex X-Ray diffractometer using monochromated CuKα radiation.The powder properties of thermal products at 60, 200, 400, and 600°C were characterized by particle shape and size distribution. Particle shapes were observed by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs) using JGM-5510LV, JEOL Ltd. Particle size distribution was measured with laser diffraction/scattering particle size distribution HORIBA LA-910.Further, as an application of phosphates, the catalytic activity of these iron-cerium phosphates was studied with the decomposition of the following complex:(1)Formaldehyde formed the complex with ammonium acetate and acetylacetone. This complex has the light adsorption at 415 nm. Samples were added in this solution and then shaken for 24 hours. The strong catalyst decomposed this complex. Therefore, the adsorption at 415 nm became small. The catalytic activity of iron-cerium phosphate was estimated from this adsorption at 415 nm.


## 3. Results and Discussion

### 3.1. Chemical Composition and Powder Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates

All obtained samples were yellow powder in color, therefore the iron condition in precipitate is mainly trivalent state. Table1 shows the chemical composition of precipitates from ICP measurements. Because the Fe/P ratio in iron phosphate, FePO4, is 1, samples contained a certain degree of proton, like Fe0.695H0.915PO4. The Fe/P ratio became higher from 0.7 to 0.82 by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The presence of proton is important to be used as a phosphate catalyst. The cerium ratio in precipitate was lower than that of preparation condition. In previous works [14, 15], lanthanum ratio in precipitates was higher than that in preparation condition. This difference is considered to be from the valence state of rare earth cation. Cerium cation in this work is tetravalent one, on the other hand, lanthanum cation in previous works is trivalent one. Trivalent rare earth cation was much easy to react to phosphate materials. It is well known that trivalent rare earth phosphates are a main composition of Monazite ore and insoluble for acidic and basic solution in the groups of phosphate materials. The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate had less influence on the Fe/Ce ratio in precipitates.Table 1
Chemical composition of precipitates from ICP measurements.
Preparation
Precipitate,FexCeyHzPO4
Fe/Ce
SDS/P
x
y
z
Fe/Ce
A
10/0
0/10
0.695
—
0.915
—
B
8/2
0/10
0.594
0.122
0.729
8/1.64
C
10/0
1/10
0.826
—
0.522
—
D
8/2
1/10
0.601
0.125
0.696
8/1.66
E
10/0
2/10
0.815
—
0.555
—
F
8/2
2/10
0.589
0.122
0.825
8/1.66Samples heated at 60, 200, and 400°C were amorphous in XRD patterns. Generally, phosphate materials prepared in a solution are amorphous in XRD analysis. Amorphous phosphate materials were expected to have various kinds of acidic sites to work as an acidic catalyst. Figure1 shows XRD patterns of samples heated at 600°C. Samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 had peaks of FePO4 in spite of the SDS ratio (Figures 1(a), 1(c), and 1(e)). On the other hand, samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 were amorphous or had small peaks in XRD patterns (Figures 1(b), 1(d), and 1(f)).Figure 1
XRD patterns of samples heated at 600°C, (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0, SDS/P = 0/10, (b) 8/2, 0/10, (c) 10/0, 1/10, (d) 8/2, 1/10, (e) 10/0, 2/10, and (f) 8/2, 2/10, ●; FePO4.Figure2 shows SEM images of samples prepared in various conditions. No specified shapes were observed in this work. By the substitution with cerium cation, large particles were formed (Figures 2(a) and 2(b)). The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate made the particle size of phosphates smaller (Figures 2(b), 2(c), and 2(d)). The heating temperature had no influence on particle shape of iron-cerium phosphates. Particle size distribution of samples was estimated for catalytic reaction in the complex solution. Figure 3 shows the particle size distribution of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and 8/2. The particle sizes of samples were from 2 to 800 μm. Sample prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 had larger particles than 100 μm in size. The amount of large particles became smaller by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (not shown). The heating temperature had little change on particle size distribution of iron-cerium phosphates.Figure 2
SEM images of samples (60°C), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0, SDS/P = 0/10, (b) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 0/10, (c) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 1/10, and (d) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 2/10.Figure 3
Particle size distribution of samples (60°C, SDS/P = 0/10), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0 and (b) 8/2.


### 3.2. Catalytic Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates

Figure4 shows the catalytic activity of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and 8/2 from the adsorption at 415 nm. The residual ratio in absorbance was calculated on the basis of that without catalyst. The low residual ratio means high catalytic activity of iron-cerium phosphates. Sulfuric acid, as one of common acidic catalysts, had about 30% of the residual ratio in this reaction. In previous work [16], iron phosphates heated at 60 and 600°C indicated low catalytic activity. Because samples heated at 60°C had large particles, the amount of acidic sites on surface of particles was small. From the results of samples heated at 600°C, the crystalline iron phosphate was considered to have little catalytic activity. In this work, samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and then heated at 60 and 600°C indicated low catalytic activity. These results had same tendency with previous work. Samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 and then heated at 60, 200, and 600°C had high catalytic activity. The substitution with cerium prevented the crystallization of iron phosphate, therefore, sample heated at 600°C (Fe/Ce = 8/2) indicated high catalytic activity. Figure 5 shows the catalytic activity of samples prepared with various SDS ratios. Samples prepared with SDS/P = 1/10 and 2/10 had higher catalytic activity than sample prepared without sodium dodecyl sulfate. Because samples prepared with sodium dodecyl sulfate had smaller particles, the complex came into contact with phosphate catalysts.Figure 4
Catalytic activity of samples (SDS/P = 0/10), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0 and (b) 8/2.Figure 5
Catalytic activity of samples (Fe/Ce = 10/0), (a) SDS/P = 0/10, (b) 1/10, and (c) 2/10.


## 3.1. Chemical Composition and Powder Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates

All obtained samples were yellow powder in color, therefore the iron condition in precipitate is mainly trivalent state. Table1 shows the chemical composition of precipitates from ICP measurements. Because the Fe/P ratio in iron phosphate, FePO4, is 1, samples contained a certain degree of proton, like Fe0.695H0.915PO4. The Fe/P ratio became higher from 0.7 to 0.82 by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The presence of proton is important to be used as a phosphate catalyst. The cerium ratio in precipitate was lower than that of preparation condition. In previous works [14, 15], lanthanum ratio in precipitates was higher than that in preparation condition. This difference is considered to be from the valence state of rare earth cation. Cerium cation in this work is tetravalent one, on the other hand, lanthanum cation in previous works is trivalent one. Trivalent rare earth cation was much easy to react to phosphate materials. It is well known that trivalent rare earth phosphates are a main composition of Monazite ore and insoluble for acidic and basic solution in the groups of phosphate materials. The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate had less influence on the Fe/Ce ratio in precipitates.Table 1
Chemical composition of precipitates from ICP measurements.
Preparation
Precipitate,FexCeyHzPO4
Fe/Ce
SDS/P
x
y
z
Fe/Ce
A
10/0
0/10
0.695
—
0.915
—
B
8/2
0/10
0.594
0.122
0.729
8/1.64
C
10/0
1/10
0.826
—
0.522
—
D
8/2
1/10
0.601
0.125
0.696
8/1.66
E
10/0
2/10
0.815
—
0.555
—
F
8/2
2/10
0.589
0.122
0.825
8/1.66Samples heated at 60, 200, and 400°C were amorphous in XRD patterns. Generally, phosphate materials prepared in a solution are amorphous in XRD analysis. Amorphous phosphate materials were expected to have various kinds of acidic sites to work as an acidic catalyst. Figure1 shows XRD patterns of samples heated at 600°C. Samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 had peaks of FePO4 in spite of the SDS ratio (Figures 1(a), 1(c), and 1(e)). On the other hand, samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 were amorphous or had small peaks in XRD patterns (Figures 1(b), 1(d), and 1(f)).Figure 1
XRD patterns of samples heated at 600°C, (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0, SDS/P = 0/10, (b) 8/2, 0/10, (c) 10/0, 1/10, (d) 8/2, 1/10, (e) 10/0, 2/10, and (f) 8/2, 2/10, ●; FePO4.Figure2 shows SEM images of samples prepared in various conditions. No specified shapes were observed in this work. By the substitution with cerium cation, large particles were formed (Figures 2(a) and 2(b)). The addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate made the particle size of phosphates smaller (Figures 2(b), 2(c), and 2(d)). The heating temperature had no influence on particle shape of iron-cerium phosphates. Particle size distribution of samples was estimated for catalytic reaction in the complex solution. Figure 3 shows the particle size distribution of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and 8/2. The particle sizes of samples were from 2 to 800 μm. Sample prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 had larger particles than 100 μm in size. The amount of large particles became smaller by the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate (not shown). The heating temperature had little change on particle size distribution of iron-cerium phosphates.Figure 2
SEM images of samples (60°C), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0, SDS/P = 0/10, (b) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 0/10, (c) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 1/10, and (d) Fe/Ce = 8/2, SDS/P = 2/10.Figure 3
Particle size distribution of samples (60°C, SDS/P = 0/10), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0 and (b) 8/2.


## 3.2. Catalytic Properties of Iron-Cerium Phosphates

Figure4 shows the catalytic activity of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and 8/2 from the adsorption at 415 nm. The residual ratio in absorbance was calculated on the basis of that without catalyst. The low residual ratio means high catalytic activity of iron-cerium phosphates. Sulfuric acid, as one of common acidic catalysts, had about 30% of the residual ratio in this reaction. In previous work [16], iron phosphates heated at 60 and 600°C indicated low catalytic activity. Because samples heated at 60°C had large particles, the amount of acidic sites on surface of particles was small. From the results of samples heated at 600°C, the crystalline iron phosphate was considered to have little catalytic activity. In this work, samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and then heated at 60 and 600°C indicated low catalytic activity. These results had same tendency with previous work. Samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 and then heated at 60, 200, and 600°C had high catalytic activity. The substitution with cerium prevented the crystallization of iron phosphate, therefore, sample heated at 600°C (Fe/Ce = 8/2) indicated high catalytic activity. Figure 5 shows the catalytic activity of samples prepared with various SDS ratios. Samples prepared with SDS/P = 1/10 and 2/10 had higher catalytic activity than sample prepared without sodium dodecyl sulfate. Because samples prepared with sodium dodecyl sulfate had smaller particles, the complex came into contact with phosphate catalysts.Figure 4
Catalytic activity of samples (SDS/P = 0/10), (a) Fe/Ce = 10/0 and (b) 8/2.Figure 5
Catalytic activity of samples (Fe/Ce = 10/0), (a) SDS/P = 0/10, (b) 1/10, and (c) 2/10.


## 4. Conclusions

Iron-cerium phosphates were prepared from iron nitrate, ammonium cerium nitrate, and phosphoric acid with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The obtained phosphates were yellow powder in color, therefore the iron condition in precipitate is mainly trivalent state. All samples had high hydrogen ratio in spite of the changes of the Fe/Ce and P/SDS ratios. The peaks of FePO4 were observed in XRD patterns of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 10/0 and then heated at 600°C. Other samples were amorphous in XRD patterns. The particle size of samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 was larger than that in Fe/Ce = 10/0. Samples prepared in Fe/Ce = 8/2 and then heated at 60, 200, and 600°C indicated high catalytic activity for the decomposition of the complex from formaldehyde, ammonium acetate, and acetylacetone.



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