PARTIAL OXIDATION AND AMMOXIDATION OF ISOBUTANE OVER BI-MO-BASED COMPOSITE OXIDE WITH NB2O5

Conversion of isobutane to methacrylonitrile via ammoxidation was studied using mixed catalysts composed of Bi-Mo-based composite oxides and various type of Nb2O5. The activity for ammoxidation of isobutane on Nb2O5 is fairly poor, and that the products were methacrolein without formation of methacylonitrile. The activity of Bi-Mo-based composite oxides for the ammoxidation of isobutane was also fairly low and that the selectivity to methacylonitrile and methacrolein was 60-80%. The mixed catalyst composed of Bi-Mo-based composite oxides and amorphous Nb2O5 and that supported by gamma-Al2O3 and SiO2 which have strong acid properties were improved their catalytic activity with keeping of their selectivity for ammoxidation of isobutane to methacrylonitrile.