Zirconium phosphate catalysts in the XXI century: State of the art from 2010 to date

An overview on the developments of zirconium phosphate (ZrP) and its organic derivatives in heterogeneous catalysis in recent years is reported in the present review. Two basic aspects have been emphasized: first, the catalytic properties of zirconium phosphates were discussed, with particular attention to the effect of surface acidity and hydrophobic/hydrophilic character, textural properties, and particle morphology on the catalytic performances. Then, the use of zirconium phosphates as support for catalytic active species was reported, including organometallic complexes, metal ions, noble metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles. Zirconium phosphate plays, in those cases, a dual role, since it promotes the dispersion and stabilization of the catalysts, thanks to their interaction with the active sites on the surface of ZrP, and facilitates the recovery and reuse of the catalytic species due to their immobilization on the solid support.