Selective oxidation of ethane: Developing an orthorhombic phase in Mo–V–X (X=Nb, Sb, Te) mixed oxides

Abstract Mo–V–X (X = Nb, Sb and/or Te) mixed oxides have been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and heat-treated in N2 at 450 °C or 600 °C for 2 h. The calcination temperature and the presence or absence of Nb determines the nature of crystalline phases in the catalyst. Nb-containing catalysts heat-treated at 450 °C are mostly amorphous solids, while Nb-free catalysts heat-treated at 450 °C and samples treated at 600 °C clearly contain crystalline phases. TPR-H2 experiments show higher H2-consumption on catalysts with amorphous phases. Catalytic results in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane indicate that the selective production of the olefin is strongly related to the development of …