Ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile over Mo-V-P-Oy/Al2O3 catalysts: Effect of phosphorus content

Abstract

Mo-V-P-Oy/Al2O3 (denoted as 18.1Mo1.9VXP/Al: 18.1wt% Mo, 1.9wt%V, Xwt% P) catalysts with different phosphorus content were prepared by an impregnation method, and they were applied to the acrylonitrile production by ammoxidation of propane. The effect of phosphorus content on the physicochemical properties and catalytic activities was investigated. Conversion of propane and yield for acrylonitrile showed volcano-shaped trends with respect to phosphorus content. Yield for acrylonitrile increased with decreasing binding energy of Mo 3d5/2. Among the catalysts, 18.1Mo1.9V0.6P/Al with the smallest binding energy of Mo 3d5/2 showed the best catalytic performance in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile.