Vanadium-Phosphorus Catalysts Modified with Magnesium, Calcium and Barium

Abstract

Vanadium-phosphorus catalysts specially modified with promotors can ensure an efficient and selective oxidation of C4 hydrocarbons, even also that of butane to maleic anhydride. The catalysts with incorporated Mg, Ca or Ba ions provide a higher conversion of butane, yield of maleic anhydride, and selectivity for the latter compound than the unmodified catalyst. The conversion of butane and yield of maleic anhydride decrease with increasing basicity of the incorporated modifiers in the order: Mg, Ca, Ba, however, the selectivity of formation of maleic anhydride increases in the opposite order, which is interpreted by the idea that on the modified V-P catalysts the conversion of butane decreases faster than the yield of the anhydride with the natural basicity of the above-mentioned modifiers.