The present work undertakes the preparation and physico-chemical characterisation of iron promoted sulphated zirconia
(SZ) with different amounts of iron loading and their application to Friedel-Crafts benzoylation of benzene, toluene and xylene
under different experimental conditions, XRD and laser Raman techniques reveal the stabilisation of the tetragonal phase of
zirconia and the existence of iron in highly dispersed form as Fe203 on the catalyst surface. The surface acidic properties were
determined by ammonia temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and perylene adsorption, The results were supported by
the TGA studies after adsorption of pyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-DMP), Strong Lewis acid sites on the surface, which
are evident from TPD and perylene adsorption studies. explain the high catalytic activity of the systems towards benzoylation.
The experimental results provide evidence for the truly heterogeneous nature of the reaction. The studies also establish the
resistance to deactivation in the metal incorporated sulphated systems.