An infrared spectroscopic study of the adsorption and mechanism of surface reactions of 2-propanol on ceria

An infrared spectroscopic study was made of the adsorbed species and the gas-phase products from the dehydrogenation and dehydration reactions of 2-propanol over CeO2 catalysts calcined at different temperatures. The adsorbed species observed included hydrogen-bonded alcohol molecules, alcoholate ions, and carboxylate ions. The dehydrogenation reaction to form acetone was followed by a transformation of this product to give isobutene and methane. The dehydration reaction gave propene as the sole product. Mechanisms for the various surface reactions are proposed which are consistent with the infrared results.