Abstract:Kaolins were calcined at 773 K and then treated with H2SO4 solution to obtain modified kaolin supports. Ni-V supported modified kaolins were prepared via an impregnating process in different n(Ni2+)):n(V5+) impregnation solution, and the obtained samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), pyridine adsorption in FTIR (Py-FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) techniques, respectively. Methanol conversion to dimethyl ether was used as a model reaction to evaluate sample activity under high-pressure mercury lamp irradiation. The results showed that the as-obtained samples had photocatalytic activity to methanol conversion. The methanol conversion and dimethyl ether selectivity could be up to 30.5% and 76.2%, respectively, when the Ni-V with n(Ni2+):n(V5+)=2:8 loading calcined kaolin leached with 40% H2SO4 followed by calcination at 773 K was used as catalyst. The synergy of Ni-V elements and the sample acidity played important roles in accelerating the photocatalytic conversion of methanol.