Tantalum-Containing Catalysts for Oxydehydrogenation of Hydrocarbons and Alcohols

The first methods were developed for introducing tantalum(V) into Mg-Al hydrotalcites, which are precursors of oxide catalysts for oxydehydrogenation of hydrocarbons and alcohols. Samples of oxide tantalum(V)-containing catalysts were synthesized. Their catalytic properties were studied in the oxydehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene and ethylbenzene to styrene, oxydehydrocyclization of octane to ethylbenzene and styrene, and oxydehydrogenation of sec-butanol to ketone (octan-2-one). The transformation of ethane to ethylene over the tantalum-containing catalyst occurs with a high selectivity (92-97%) at relatively low temperatures (500 degrees C), and the catalyst is quite efficient in conversion of ethylbenzene to styrene, dehydrocyclization of n-octane to ethylbenzene and styrene, and oxydehydrogenation of sec-butanol to octan-2-one. Comparison with a niobium-containing catalyst showed that it ensures higher yields and selectivities in similar reactions than its tantalum-containing analogue does.