Dynamic processes on vanadium phosphorous oxides for selective alkane oxidation

The use of complementary physicochemical tools (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, ³¹P NMR, and electron microscopy techniques), sometimes used in in situ conditions has allowed to evidence the dynamic processes occurring during the oxidation of light alkanes on the vanadium phosphorus oxide (VPO) system. The transformations of the VPO system in the course of the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride and of the oxidation of propane to acrylic acid are contrasted in connection with the evolution of the catalytic performances.