Ga-promoted tungstated zirconia catalyst for n-butane isomerization

Ga-promoted tungstated zirconia (GWZ) was prepared by a slurry impregnation method. The textural properties as well as the acidities of the Ga-promoted catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption, NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃ TPD), microcalorimetry and H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂ TPR). The catalytic behavior of GWZ for n-butane isomerization was studied in the presence of hydrogen. In comparison to tungstated zirconia (WZ), the catalytic activity of the Ga-promoted catalyst was greatly improved. The reason proposed for the higher activity of the Ga-promoted catalysts was that Ga enhances the oxidizing ability of the catalysts.