A new strategy to generate strong basic sites on neutral salt KNO3 modified NaY

A new strategy was introduced to decompose KNO3 and generate strong basic sites at the temperature as low as 723 K and the base strength (H–) of 15.0–18.4 was measured on KNO3/NaY composites. The basic sites produced were further characterized by FTIR, CO2-TPD and titration of basicity. The redox interaction between loaded KNO3 and methanol was proved to be accounted for the generation of basic sites on KNO3/NaY composites and the interaction pathway was proposed by evacuated FTIR and TG/MS. In comparison with the conventional thermal approach, the redox process could also suppress the release of NOx from KNO3 decomposition according to the results of the colorimetric method and TG/MS. In addition, solid bases KNO3/NaY were firstly employed to catalyze the vapor phase methylation of cyclopentadiene (CPD). The basic sites generated through the interaction between KNO3 and methanol were catalytically active for CPD methylation.