Divanadium substituted keggin [PV2W10O40] on non-reducible supports-Al2O3 and SiO2: synthesis, characterization, and catalytic properties for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Abstract

Molecular metal oxide cluster, K5[α-1,2-PV2W10O40] (PV2W10), was found to have intrinsic catalytic activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with high selectivity (> 80%) to propylene at low propane conversion (0.3%). Synthesis of dispersed PV2W10 in non-reducible supports, γ-Al2O3 and SiO2, was done by incipient wetness impregnation. The supported catalysts were characterized by IR, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption, x-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2–TPR), and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3–TPD). Catalytic testing of the supported PV2W10 at equimolar cluster concentration revealed that when supported in γ-Al2O3 it is more active (sevenfold increase in propane conversion) but in SiO2 it is more selective to propylene (94%). The observed performance was due to both an increase in reducibility and higher concentration of strong acid sites for PV2W10 supported in γ-Al2O3 versus SiO2. Lastly, PV2W10 was shown to remain intact under reaction conditions indicating its thermal and oxidative stability.