Reaction between methanol and acetic acid catalyzed by SiO2‐supported V‐P‐O catalyst in oxygen atmosphere

SiO₂‐supported V‐P‐O catalysts prepared by the incipient‐wetness impregnation method beginning with ammonium metavanadate and phosphoric acid were used in the catalytic reaction between methanol and acetic acid in an oxygen atmosphere. The SiO₂‐supported V‐P‐O catalysts were composed of VOPO₄ and (VO)₂P₂O₇ phases. Both the acidic and alkaline sites were co‐present in the catalysts. The vanadium species catalyzed the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. The V‐P‐O(20–30 wt%)/SiO₂ catalysts with a P/V mole ratio of 2:1 exhibited higher catalytic activity for the formation of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate with a total selectivity of ～28 % at 380 °C. The acid sites of the catalysts also catalyzed the formation of methyl acetate with a selectivity of ～65 %. Methanol can be an alternative to formaldehyde for the synthesis of both acrylic acid and methyl acrylate through the aldol condensation reaction.