Effect of divalent metal component (MeII) on the catalytic performance of MeIIFe2O4 catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene

A series of metal ferrite (Me(II)Fe(2)O(4)) catalysts were prepared by a co-precipitation method with a variation of divalent metal component (Me(II) = Zn, Mg, Mn, Ni, Co, and Cu) for use in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene. Successful formation of metal ferrite catalysts with a random spinel structure was confirmed by XRD, ICP-AES, and XPS analyses. The catalytic performance of metal ferrite catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene strongly depended on the identity of divalent metal component. Acid properties of metal ferrite catalysts were measured by NH(3)-TPD experiments, with an aim of correlating the catalytic performance with the acid property of the catalysts. It was revealed that the yield for 1,3-butadiene increased with increasing surface acidity of the catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, ZnFe(2)O(4) catalyst with the largest surface acidity showed the best catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene.