Supported vanadium oxide catalysts in selective oxidation of ethanol: Comparison of TiO2/SiO2 and ZrO2/SiO2 as supports

Highly dispersed vanadia supported on TiO2/SiO2 and ZrO2/SiO2 were synthesized through the grafting method. The physical and chemical properties were investigated by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, H2 temperature programmed reduction, and temperature programmed desorption. Moreover, their performances in selective oxidation of ethanol were evaluated. With almost identical vanadia loading, VOx/ZrO2/SiO2 exhibits better catalytic behaviors than that of VOx/TiO2/SiO2. This can be attributed to the nature of enhanced support.