Effect of modifiers on the reactivity of Cr2O3/Al2O3 and Cr2O3/TiO2 catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Chromium oxide supported on alumina and titania supports was modified with oxides of sodium, vanadium and molybdenum. The modified and unmodified chromium oxide catalysts were characterized by several techniques. The presence of surface chromium oxide and surface molybdenum and vanadium oxide species was detected in the unmodified and molybdenum and vanadium oxide modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. The reducibility (Tmax and H/Cr ratio) of the surface chromium species was not affected for the vanadium and molybdenum oxide modified catalysts; however, the reducibility changed noticeably for sodium modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. Studies of the reactivity of the ODH of propane revealed the effect of modifiers on the reactivity properties of the surface chromium oxide species. The activity and propene selectivity decreased for sodium modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. However, the activity increased for vanadium oxide modified catalysts and was similar for molybdenum oxide modified catalysts irrespective of the support. The propene selectivity was higher for molybdenum oxide modified chromium oxide catalysts. However, the propene selectivity for vanadium oxide modified catalysts depends on the support since it appears that the inherent selectivity of the surface vanadium oxide species is reflected.