The reaction of ethanol with surface OH groups on ZrO2, CuO/ZrO2, CuO, Al2O3, Ga2O3, NiO, and SiO2 was studied by IR spectroscopy. The basicity of oxides was followed by CO2 adsorption, and their ability to oxidize was investigated by H2-TPR. It has been found that ethanol reacts with surface OH groups forming ethoxy groups and water. Some oxides: ZrO2, CuO/ZrO2, Al2O3, and Ga2O3 contain several kinds of OH groups (terminal, bidentate, and tridentate) and terminal hydroxyls react with ethanol in the first order. Two kinds of ethoxyls are formed on these oxides: monodental and bidental ones. On the other hand, only one kind of ethoxy group is formed on CuO and NiO. The amount of ethoxy groups correlates with the basicity of oxides. The biggest amount of ethoxyls is produced on the most basic: ZrO2, CuO/ZrO2, and Al2O3, whereas the smallest amount of ethoxyls is produced on CuO, NiO, and Ga2O3, i.e., on oxides of lower basicity. SiO2 does not form ethoxy groups. Above 370 K ethoxy groups on CuO/ZrO2, CuO, and NiO are oxidized to acetate ions. The ability of oxides to oxidize ethoxyl groups increases in the order NiO < CuO < CuO/ZrO2. The temperature of the peak in the H2-TPR diagram decreases in the same order.
Keywords: IR spectroscopy; acetate ions; ethoxy groups.