PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF VAPO-5 FORTHE OXYDEHYDROGENATION OF PROPANE

Vanadium aluminophosphates with AFI structure (VAPO-5) have been prepa red by hydrothermal synthesis, characterized by several physicochemica l techniques (i.e., thermogravimetric analysis, XRD, Solid state MAS N MR, UV-Vis, EPR, TPR), and tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The influence of the different synthesis parameters, particu larly the content and oxidation state of vanadium, the pH of the gel, and the presence of complexing agents, has been studied. The vanadium atom are incorporated as isolated vanadyl VO2+ ions in square pyramida l or distorted octahedral environments. After calcination in air, most of the V4+ ions are oxidized to V5+ in square pyramidal or octahedral symmetry, which evolve toward tetrahedral coordination upon dehydrati on. The VAPO-5 samples are active and selective for the oxidative dehy drogenation of propane. Their catalytic properties are better than the corresponding ALPO(4)-5 supported vanadium catalysts. Isolated tetrah edral V5+ species in the framework of AFI structure are proposed to be the active and selective sites for the oxydehydrogenation of propane. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.