Performance of WOx-added Mo–V–Te–Nb–O catalysts in the partial oxidation of propane to acrylic acid

The performance of Mo1.0V0.3Te0.23Nb0.23Ox catalyst in the partial oxidation of propane to acrylic acid was improved when the catalyst was modified with an optimal amount of tungsten oxide (WOx), which was present largely in an amorphous phase. The added WOx increased the catalyst activity by promoting the dehydration of the oxygenate intermediates in the oxidation process, which eventually accelerated the production of propylene. An increase in the dehydration rates on the W-added catalysts was verified by separate experiments using 1- and 2-propanol as the reactants. The selectivity for the production of acrylic acid was also improved for the W-added catalysts because the dehydration step was promoted to a greater extent than the dehydrogenation step and the number of acidic sites in the catalysts was decreased. The reaction results obtained using the W-added catalysts can be explained based on the reaction paths involved in the propane-oxidation process and on the surface properties of the catalysts analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and the temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD).

The activity of Mo1.0V0.3Te0.23Nb0.23Ox catalysts for propane oxidation was increased by WOx addition due to the promotion of the propanol dehydration step and oxygen mobility in the catalysts. The selectivity for acrylic acid was also improved due to the increased rates of the dehydration step and the decreased number of acidic sites in the catalysts.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (35 K)Download as PowerPoint slide