Aerogel VOx/MgO catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

VO_x/MgO aerogel catalysts were synthesized using three different preparation methods: by mixing the aerogel MgO support with dry ammonium vanadate, by vanadium deposition from a precursor solution in toluene, and by hydrolysis of a mixture of vanadium and magnesium alkoxides followed by co-gelation and supercritical drying. The latter aerogel technique allowed us to synthesize mixed vanadium–magnesium hydroxides with the surface areas exceeding 1300 m²/g. The synthesized catalysts were studied by a number of physicochemical methods (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XANES and TEM). A common feature of all synthesized samples is the lack of V₂O₅ phase. In all cases vanadium was found to be a part of a surface mixed V–Mg oxide (magnesium vanadate), its structure depending on the synthesis method. The VO_x/MgO mixed aerogel sample had the highest surface area 340 m²/g, showed higher catalytic activity and selectivity in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane compared to the catalysts prepared by impregnation and dry mixing. The addition of iodine vapor to the feed in 0.1–0.25 vol.% concentrations was found to increase to propylene yield by 40–70%.