High performance (VOx)n–(TiOx)m/SBA-15 catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Abstract

Grafted V_xO_y catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODP) have been studied due to their potential high performance and as model catalysts in the past. We report on a positive synergetic effect capable of considerably enhancing the propene productivities above reported performances. The most productive catalysts were found at metal loadings (V + Ti) close to the monolayer coverage. The 4V/13Ti/SBA-15 catalyst presented a considerably high productivity (6–9 kg_propene kg_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹). Moreover, with this catalyst, propene productivity only slightly decreased as a function of propane conversion, indicating that propene combustion toward CO_x occurs more slowly in comparison to other catalysts exhibiting high propene productivities. A detailed kinetic analysis of the 4V/13Ti/SBA-15 catalyst revealed that high vanadia and titania dispersions are required for high propene productivity.