Preparation of NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O via solid-state reaction at low heat and its catalytic performance in the synthesis of butyl acetate

Nanocrystalline NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O was obtained by grinding ZrOCl2·8H2O and (NH4)2HPO4 in the presence of surfactant PEG-400 via solid-state reaction at room temperature. The product NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O and its product of thermal decomposition were characterized using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analyses (TG/DTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Nanocrystalline NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O with an average particle size of 17 nm was obtained when the product was kept at 80°C for 3 h. Its crystalline framework was stable at temperatures below 250°C. In addition, the catalytic performance of NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O in the synthesis of butyl acetate was investigated. The results show that NH4ZrH(PO4)2·H2O behaved as an excellent heterogeneous catalyst in the synthesis of butyl acetate.