Higher propene yield by tailoring operating conditions of propane oxidative dehydrogenation over V2O5/γ-Al2O3

Supported vanadia catalysts were successfully synthesized using wet impregnation of gamma-alumina to study propane oxidative dehydrogenation (POD). The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, specific surface area determination, and temperature programmed reduction tests. Over a broad temperature range (340 to 630 degrees C), the effects of vanadia loading (2.7, 5.4, and 9 wt. %) and propane to oxygen ratio (3:1 to 1:3) were thoroughly investigated on propane conversion as well as propene yield at atmospheric pressure. The results indicated that on increasing the vanadia content, the activity of catalyst increased while the selectivity to propene decreased monotonically. With increasing temperature from 340 to 630 degrees C, the yield to propene showed an ascending behavior for all catalyst samples. The yield to propene exhibited a maximum on changing the propane to oxygen ratio from 3:1 to 1:3. The yield increased with increasing oxygen partial pressure in the feed until an equimolar ratio of propane and oxygen and then it declined with further increase in the oxygen partial pressure. A maximum propene yield of 17 % was experienced on the catalyst with 2.7 wt. % vanadia at a temperature of 550 degrees C.