P-modified cobalt oxide: A novel and effective catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

A series of nanosized cobalt oxide catalysts modified with phosphorus have been synthesized by the sol-gel method and investigated in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene. With the addition of phosphorus, the crystallite size of the catalyst was largely decreased, while the P species in the catalyst were highly dispersed. Compared to pure cobalt oxide, the P-modified samples showed higher propane conversion and enhanced propene selectivity. Over the PCoO catalyst with a P/Co atomic ratio of 0.05, the maximal propene yields of 15.7% with a propane conversion of 28.3% were obtained at 520 degrees C. (C) 2013 Chuan-Jing Huang and Hui-Lin Wan. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.