OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF PROPANE OVER MAGNESIUM MOLYBDATE CATALYSTS

Catalytic activities of magnesium molybdates were investigated for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with and without molecular oxyge n under atmospheric pressure. Catalytic properties drastically changed with the catalyst composition, and it turned out that Mg0.95MoOx cata lysts having slight excess molybdenum showed the highest activity in t he oxidative dehydrogenation of propane, which gave 61% selectivity to propene at 22% conversion of propane at 515 degrees C. The catalytic activities strongly depended on the acidic properties of the catalysts . It was also revealed that the lattice oxide ions of the catalysts pa rticipated as an active oxygen in the oxidative dehydrogenation of pro pane.