Effect of preparation conditions on the composition, structure, and properties of iron–molybdenum catalyst

X-ray phase analysis, synchronous thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy were used to study the process in which an iron-molybdenum catalyst for partial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde is prepared. The influence exerted by the pH of the medium on the composition, structure, and properties of the oxide Fe–Mo catalyst was examined. It was found that the amount of the active component in a sample obtained at pH 2 is the largest, and the sample exhibits the best activity in the reaction of methanol oxidation to formaldehyde. The possibility was examined of the occurrence of side reactions in which carbon monoxide is converted. It was found that the conversion occurs only on samples obtained at pH > 2.