OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF 1-BUTENE TO BUTADIENE ON ALPHA-FE2O3 ZNAL2O4 AND ZNFEXAL2-XO4 CATALYSTS/

The oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene to butadiene was studied ove r a series of catalysts of iron impregnated on ZnAl2O4 used as a suppo rt and also Fe coprecipitated with zinc and aluminum in order to obtai n ZnFexAl2-xO4 type catalysts. Results were compared with bulk alpha-F e2O3, ZnAl2O4 and ZnFe2O4. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mossbauer spect roscopy suggest that in the impregnated catalysts, Fe ions are in stro ng interaction with the support. These samples have higher butadiene s electivity than coprecipitated ZnFexAl2-xO4 catalysts, in which iron i s incorporated into the ZnAl2O4 spinel network. Results suggest also t hat iron content has a greater effect on butadiene selectivity than th e zinc aluminate-iron oxide interaction.