A novel multi-channel reactor system combined with operando UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy: Proof of principle

A 36 channel reactor system combining high-throughput experimentation (HTE) with operando UV/vis diffuse reflectance (UV/vis-DR) spectroscopy is introduced and applied for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODP) to propene at 500 °C over polycrystalline V2O3, VO2, and V2O5. This set-up enabled to monitor reaction-induced reduction of V2O5 to V2O3, and VO2 during the ODP reaction. The operando UV/vis-DR spectroscopic analysis along the catalyst bed demonstrated that the vanadium oxidation state at the reactor inlet is higher than at the reactor outlet. This is due to the depletion of oxygen and the enrichment of propene down stream along the catalyst bed.