Specific surface area and pore size measurements of the
catalysts were performed using Micrometrics adsorption equipment
(Model ASAP 2000) at 78 K using liquid nitrogen. Prior to theanalysis the catalyst was evacuated at 200 8C in vacuum of
5 104 atm to remove all adsorbed moisture from catalyst
surface and pores. XRD analysis was performed using Rigaku
diffractometer (Rigaku, Tokyo, Japan) using Cu Ka radiation at
40 kV and 130 mA in the scanning angle (2u) of 5–808 at a scanning
speed of 5 8 min1
. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis were
performed under argon flow on a Perkin–Elmer analyzer with a
heating rate of 10 8C/min up to 650 8C. The carbon content of the
catalysts was measured on a C, H, N, and S analyzer (Vario EL).
2