Preparation and Oxidation Catalysis of H5PMo10V2O40 Catalyst Immobilized on Nitrogen-Containing Spherical Carbon

Nitrogen-containing spherical carbon (N-SC) with a diameter of ca. 12 μm was synthesized by a hydrothermal method using melamine-formaldehyde resin as a carbon precursor. The N-SC was then modified to have a positive charge, and thus, to provide a site for the immobilization of H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀ (PMo₁₀V₂) catalyst. The PMo₁₀V₂ catalyst was chemically immobilized on the surface-modified N-SC support by taking advantage of the overall negative charge of [PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀]^5?. Characterization results showed that nitrogen in the N-SC support played an important role in forming a nitrogen-derived functional group (amine group) and that PMo₁₀V₂ catalyst was chemically immobilized on the nitrogen-derived functional group of N-SC support. PMo₁₀V₂/N-SC catalyst showed a higher 2-propanol conversion than the unsupported PMo₁₀V₂ catalyst in the vapor-phase 2-propanol conversion reaction. Moreover, the PMo₁₀V₂/N-SC catalyst showed an enhanced oxidation catalytic activity (formation of acetone) and a suppressed acid catalytic activity (formation of propylene and isopropyl ether) than the unsupported PMo₁₀V₂ catalyst. The enhanced oxidation activity of PMo₁₀V₂/N-SC catalyst was due to fine dispersion of [PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀]^5? on the N-SC support formed via chemical immobilization.