Influence of the initial iron concentration on the iron-loading in MCM-41 and thermal decomposition of the supported iron complexes

Using toluene solutions of iron acetylacetonate with different concentrations as the iron sources, iron species were loaded in MCM-41 by the incipient wetness impregnation procedure. A detailed study of the influence of the initial iron concentration on the iron-loading content and the loading mechanisms was carried out. The thermal decomposition of the supported iron complexes was also investigated. The results show that the initial iron concentration has effects not only on the iron-retaining content, but also on the mechanism of the iron-loading process. The iron complexes, which are anchored to the surface of the mesopores, show quite different thermal decomposition behaviors as compared with pure iron acetylactonate.