SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF METHANE TO FORMALDEHYDE ON SUPPORTED MOLYBDATE CATALYSTS

A series of silica-supported molybdena catalysts with variable molybdenum content has been prepared and tested in the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde. The nature of the supported oxide phases has been studied by Fourier transform IR of chemisorbed NO molecule, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Visible reflectance and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results show that molybdenum oxide is highly dispersed on the silica at low molybdenum concentrations where two-dimensional polymolybdates are developed. Three-dimensional MoO3 crystals grow in the region of high molybdenum concentrations. The analysis of the combined data suggests that there is a close relationship between methane conversion and formaldehyde selectivity and the presence of highly dispersed polymolybdate structures on the silica surface.