Dehydration of isopropyl alcohol on lithium vanadium bronzes —The relation between electrical and catalytic properties

Abstract

The catalytic decomposition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on V 2O 5 and lithium doped V 2O 5 has been studied. The reaction is predominantly dehydration with very little dehydrogenation of IPA. An increase in the concentration of lithium increases the electrical conductivity (σ) and also catalytic dehydration. This is in contradiction with the view that dehydration of alcohols takes place at the acid centers on the surface. The energy of activation of the reaction has been obtained. A definite relation between the electrical properties of the bronze and their activity towards IPA dehydration has been observed.