Catalytic oxidative activation of light alkanes over Mo-V-based oxides having controlled surface

An arrangement of catalytically active elements of Mo, V, and Te in an oxide solid with a single crystallographic phase was successfully done by the hydrothermal synthetic method. A black solid powder with a rod-shape (by SEM) was obtained. This catalyst material was first air-treated at 280 degreesC for 2 h, by which Te was stabilized in the structure. The air-treated sample was then heat-treated at 600 degreesC in a nitrogen stream. It was revealed by XRD analysis that this treatment made the solid in a well-crystallized state. Finally, in order to break the rods into fine powders, the well-crystallized rod-shaped material was ground, by which a face of the cross-section of the rods seems to be preferentially appeared. Thus obtained catalyst, Mo6V3Te1Ox, showed a high activity for the selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid at 360 degreesC. Since the grinding was found to be the most effectual determinant in the propane conversion and the acrylic acid formation, the surface on the cross-section part of the rod-shaped crystals is active for the selective oxidation. It was assumed that all the elements of Mo, V, and Te arrange in this surface and effectively promote the consecutive oxidation from propane to acrylic acid via propene and acrolein.