Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane over Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts: Effect of oxygen capacity and acidity of the catalysts

X-Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method with a variation of vanadium content (X = 2.8, 4.2, 5.6, 9.0, and 11.2 wt%), and they were applied to the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane. Effect of oxygen capacity and acidity of Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts on the catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane was investigated. Experimental results revealed that oxygen capacity and acidity of catalyst were closely related to the catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane. It was found that the catalytic performance of X-Mg3(VO4)2/MgO–ZrO2 catalysts increased with increasing oxygen capacity and with increasing acidity of the catalyst.