Synthesis of SnO2–MoO3 solid solution and its properties in the reaction of methanol dehydrogenation

X-ray diffraction analysis, synchronous-thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy were used to confirm the possibility of obtaining a tin–molybdenum solid solution by the closed-cycle technology via joint mechanochemical activation of tin oxide (SnO2) and molybdenum oxide (h-MoO3), followed by a thermal treatment at 650°C. An analysis of the catalytic properties demonstrated that various target reaction products (methyl formate and formaldehyde) can be obtained by varying the temperature of the methanol dehydrogenation process. It was found that the selectivity toward methyl formate reaches a maximum of 99.88% at a temperature of 180°C. Raising the temperature further results in that the selectivity toward formaldehyde increases and reaches its maximum value at 260°C.