The nature of activity of the alumina catalysts in the reaction of carbon disulfide hydrolysis

The acidity and basicity of the industrial Clauss catalysts and crystallographically pure η- and γ-Al 2 O 3 were studied by the stepwise thermal desorption of NH 3 and SO 2 . The activities of the samples in the reaction of carbon disulfide hydrolysis at 300°C were compared with their acidity and basicity. The activities of the alumina catalysts were shown to strictly correlate with their basicity and in some cases with their acidity. The data on the poisoning of the samples lend support for the predominant role of the basic sites; the activity is determined by the concentration of the strongest basic sites. The α-centers at the surface of γ-Al 2 O 3 seem to be the active sites.