Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane to n-butene and 1,3-butadiene over Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts: Effect of Mg:Zr ratio of support

MgO–ZrO2 supports with different Mg:Zr ratios (16:1, 8:1, 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1) were prepared by a gel-oxalate co-precipitation method, and Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts were then prepared by a wet impregnation method. The prepared catalysts were applied to the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane to n-butene and 1,3-butadiene. Experimental results revealed that oxygen capacity and acidity of the catalyst were closely related to the catalytic performance. Among the catalyst tested, Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 (4:1) catalyst, which retained the largest oxygen capacity and acidity, exhibited the best catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane.