Oxidation of propane over substituted Keggin phosphomolybdate salts

Ammonium salts, (NH4)(6)HPMo11MO40 (M = Ni, Co, Fe), have been investigated for the oxidation of propane, with molecular oxygen, at temperature ranging between 380 degrees C and 420 degrees C after in-situ pre-treatment performed at two heating rate of 5 or 9 degrees C/min. They were characterized by BET method, XRD, P-31 NMR, UV-Vis and IR techniques. The catalysts were found active in the propane oxidation and selective to propene or acrolein, in particular for samples pre-treated with the heating rate of 9 degrees C/min.