Effect of nickel, lanthanum, and yttrium addition to magnesium molybdate catalyst on the catalytic activity for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

The catalytic performances of pure magnesium molybdate (MgMoO4) and MeMgMoOx (Me = Ni, La, or Y) for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane were investigated. Catalysts were characterized by nitrogen physisorption, XRD, FT-Raman, and temperature-programmed reduction measurements. Catalytic reactions were carried out at two different temperatures, 450 and 560 degreesC, under atmospheric pressure. The effects of the C3H8/O-2 molar ratio in the feed and bed residence time on propylene selectivity and on propane conversion were also investigated. Although the strong effect of Ni loading both on reducibility and on the catalytic activity of MgMoO4 catalyst was observed, Y and La modification did not show any significant effect as opposed to Ni. A 19.3% propylene yield was achieved over 5 mol % Ni-containing MgMoO4 catalyst at 560 degreesC.