Modification of Al2O3 by activated carbon-supported vanadia catalyst studies for ODH of ethylbenzene in presence of CO2 as a soft oxidant

Alumina-carbon composites with variable Al/C ratios, prepared by sol–gel method, have been used as supports for the preparation of V2O5 catalysts. Deposition of V2O5 (10 weight % V2O5 loading) was achieved by impregnation technique. These synthesized catalysts were characterized by various characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area and BJH pore-size distribution by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These catalysts have been tested for non-oxidative (N2 as a carrier) and oxidative (CO2 as a soft oxidant) dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and it was observed that the V2O5/alumina-carbon catalyst with 60% Al2O3 exhibited a reasonably good activity with CO2 as soft oxidant which probably was due to the presence of alumina in microcrystalline form and acid–base functionality of composite.