Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane on vanadium-containing aluminophosphates with AFI structure

MeAPO-5 (Me = V, Mg, Co, Mn) and VMeAPO-5 (Me = Mg, Co, Mn) with AFI structure were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by nitrogen-adsorption, TPR, diffuse reflectance (UV-VIS) and ESR spectroscopies. Their catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane using molecular oxygen was also studied. Although different catalytic behaviour was observed depending on the metal incorporated, Vanadia-metal containing materials were the most selective catalysts. The importance of both redox and acid character of the catalysts on their catalytic properties is discussed.