Characterization and reactivity of TiO2/SiO2 supported vanadium oxide catalysts

Several TiO(2)/SiO(2) supports and supported vanadium oxide (vanadia) catalysts of varying titania and vanadia content are synthesized and characterized. Titania rutile phase is not detected for the TiO(2)/SiO(2) supports even up to a calcinations temperature of 1073 K. The supported vanadia catalysts were also studied for the ethane and propane ODH reaction and compared with TiO(2) (Degussa P25) supported catalysts. Surface vanadia species are present on the titania or silica part of the TiO(2)/SiO(2) support depending on the titania and vanadia loading of the catalyst. Depending on the vanadia loading in the V(2)O(5)/TiO(2)/SiO(2) catalyst the anatase to rutile phase transformation may occur below 1073 K. Furthermore, the ODH activity is retained or decreases less rapidly compared to the TiO(2) supported catalyst as the calcination temperature is increased. Consequently, the TiO(2)/SiO(2) supported vanadia catalysts do provide certain advantages compared to the TiO(2) (Degussa P25) supported system.