OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF ETHANE ON VANADIUM-CONTAINING ALUMINOPHOSPHATES WITH AFI STRUCTURE

MeAPO-5 (Me = V, Mg, Co, Mn) and VMeAPO-5 (Me = Mg, Co, Mn) with AFI s tructure were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by nitrogen-adsorption, TPR, diffuse reflectance (UV-VIS) and ESR spectro scopies. Their catalytic performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane using molecular oxygen was also studied. Although different catalytic behaviour was observed depending on the metal incorporated, Vanadia-metal containing materials were the most selective catalysts. The importance of both redox and acid character of the catalysts on th eir catalytic properties is discussed.