Abstract: The effect of calcination temperature on the surface morphology and catalytic performance of the K₂WO₄/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method for the synthesis of methanethiol from methanol and hydrogen sulfide was investigated. Physicochemical characterization results of the catalyst showed that the K₂WO₄ is well dispersed on Al₂O₃, and the catalyst possesses uniform particle size after calcination at 450 or 550 ^oC. With increasing the calcination temperature, the specific surface area decreases, the interaction of W species with Al₂O₃ was weakened, but strengthened with basic species, leading to the decrease of surface acidity and basicity. No Brönsted acid was found on the catalyst surface. The catalytic activity of the catalyst is closely related with the specific surface area and the presence of conjugate acid-base pairs on the surface. Activity assay results show that the catalyst calcined at 550 ^oC exhibits the highest activity for the reaction.

Key words: potassium tungstate, alumina, supported catalyst, methanethiol, methanol, hydrogen sulfide