The role of metal oxides as promoters of V2O5/γ-Al2O3 catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Summary The physicochemical properties of potassium-, bismuth-, phosphorous- and molybdenum-doped (Me/V atomic ratios of 0 to 1) V 2 O 5 /γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts and their catalytic behavior in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane have been compared. The incorporation of metal oxides modifies the catalytic behavior of alumina-supported vanadia catalysts by changing both their redox and their acid-base properties. In this way, the addition of potassium leads to the best increase in the selectivity to propylene. This performance can be related to the modification of the acid character of the surface of the catalysts. The possible role of both redox and acid-base properties of catalysts on th…