Hierarchical nano-structuring of metal oxide catalysts - Part 1: Influence of nano-structuring on the activity of the catalysts

Catalysts on the basis of supported molybdenum or vanadium oxides are used in the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons, for example for the oxidation of butene or benzene to maleic anhydride, for the oxidation of o-xylene to phthalic anhydride or in the ammoxidation of propene to acrylonitrile. The aim of this paper is the preparation of nano-structured TiO2-based catalysts with hierarchical structure. The catalytic active components V2O5, MoO3 or TiO2 are deposited on two titanium (IV) oxide supports, of different particle size using different deposition techniques. The catalysts are evaluated in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODP , according to the equation C3H8 + 1/2 O2 → C3H6 + H2O as a technical relevant model reaction. © 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim.