Fourier Transform Raman Studies of Methyl Red Adsorbed on γ-Alumina and Silica-Alumina

Fourier transform Raman spectra of methyl red adsorbed on untreated and pretreated ${\gamma}$-alumina and silicaalumina calcined at 900 $^{\circ}C$ under 1 atm steam flowing were recorded. Spectral analysis shows that the active species adsorbed on ${\gamma}$-alumina was to be deprotonated methyl red, and on silica-alumina to be di-protonated. This indicates that ${\gamma}$-alumina adapted in this work holds Bronsted basicity, and silica-alumina Bronsted acidity. Raman intensities of methyl red on pretreated ${\gamma}$-alumina are about three times stronger than on untreated ${\gamma}$-alumina, while spectral features are unchanged. For silica-alumina, spectral features show modified vibrational characteristics upon surface hydroxylations generated from pretreatment. Consequently, the acidity loss for silica-alumina and the basicity gain for ${\gamma}$-alumina were observed by increasing the surface hydroxyl groups on the catalysts through pretreatment of the steam calcination.