Synthesis and Characterization of Mixed Rare Earths Hydroxide Catalyst

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of mixed rare earths hydroxide heterogeneous catalyst. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation of mixed rare earths with NaOH at different pH (6, 7 and 12). The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The XRF results showed that the catalyst composed of cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr) and samarium (Sm) being predominant at pH up to 7. Particularly, cerium (Ce) was favorable precipitation at pH 7. This results were confirm by SEM-EDS. The Ce (OH)3 phase was clearly observed for the mixed rare earth catalyst precipitated at pH 7. The XRF, SEM-EDS and XRD results were consistency.