Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane on the VO x /CeZrO/Al2O3 supported catalyst

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane on a supported vanadium catalyst was studied (the support was a complex oxide system consisting of a ceria-zirconia solid solution deposited on γ-Al₂O₃ (CeZrO/γ-Al₂O₃)). A comparative analysis of the properties of the support and the catalyst prepared on its basis was performed. The support and catalyst were characterized by the BET method, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The catalytic properties of the catalyst and support were studied in propane oxidation at 450 and 500°C with pulse feeding of the reagent. The effect of propane on the support was found to improve the oxidative properties of the latter. This behavior of the support is related to the preparation procedure, which leads to the formation on its surface of the crystalline phase of the ceria-zirconia solid solution and amorphous ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ phases and/or their solid solution. Similar processes occur with the catalyst support during the oxidative dehydrogenation, giving rise to additional active centers (CeVO₄).