ACTIVITY OF SURFACE SPECIES OF (VO)(2)P2O7 IN THE OXIDATION OF N-BUTANE

The factors for the activity of (VO)(2)P2O7 catalysts in n-butane oxid ation are discussed on the basis of the number of surface functional s pecies, i.e. the surface V=O species. The activity for n-butane oxidat ion was only poorly correlated with the number of surface V=O species. The turnover frequency based on the surface V=O species was higher ov er (VO)(2)P2O7 prepared from organic media than that prepared from aqu eous media, and it was correlated with the broadening of the (200) lin e in the XRD pattern. it is concluded that the activity of the surface V=O species depends on the disorder of (VO)(2)P2O7 crystallites along the a axis which results in the promotion of the redox property of (V O)(2)P2O7. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.