Effect of alkali metals additives to V2O5/TiO2 catalyst on physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

The effect of alkali metal additives Li, K, and Rb to V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst on the rate of catalyst reduction with propane and reoxidation with oxygen, sorption of propene, and the electron work function has been examined. The results have been correlated with the catalytic performance in oxidative dehydrogenation, ODH, of propane. It has been found that the rates of reduction, reoxidation and the ODH of propane decrease in the order: VTi>LiVTi>KVTi>RbVTi. The activation energies of the reduction and reoxidation are not, however, affected by the presence of the alkali metals. The same sequence has been observed for the work function values of the catalysts. It is argued that alkali metal poisons the centres of the hydrocarbon activation. The yield and selectivity to propene in the ODH of propane increase, however, for the promoted catalysts, following the above sequence. This effect is ascribed to the decrease in the heat of the propene adsorption, which is due to the increase in the basicity and decrease in acidity on the promoted catalysts.