Oxidation of propane over substituted Keggin phosphomolybdate salts

Ammonium salts, (NH4)6HPMo11MO40 (M = Ni, Co, Fe), have been investigated for the oxidation of propane, with molecular oxygen, at temperature ranging between 380 °C and 420 °Cafter in-situ pre-treatment performed at two heating rate of 5 or 9 °C/min. They were characterized by BET method, XRD, 31P NMR, UV-Vis and IR techniques. The catalysts were found active in the propane oxidation and selective to propene or acrolein, in particular for samples pre-treated with the heating rate of 9 °C/min.