Study of Ti-P-O based catalysts in oxidative dehydrogenation of N-butane.: Identification of the active phase

Eight Ti-P-O catalytic systems with an Ti to P atomic ratio varied between 13:1 and 1:2 were prepared, characterised and tested in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane. Except Ti-2P-O catalyst. which consisted of one phase, namely TiP2O7, the other ones consisted of a two phases, mixture, TiO2 et TiP2O7. It has been shown that all of the catalysts are efficient for n-butane conversion, and that the pyrophosphate phase is responsible for this efficiency. A correlation between the acidity of the solids and their activity was observed.