Oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes over V-based catalysts: Influence of redox properties on catalytic performance

The activity and selectivity of the catalysts used in oxidative dehydrogena tion of alkanes results from a combination of factors related to the nature of the catalysts and to the operating conditions under which these are use d. In this work, the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes (mainly butane) o ver V-Mg-O and VOx/Al2O3 catalysts has been studied. The investigation is f ocused on the examination of the oxidation and reduction processes that tak e place on the surface of both catalysts. A combination of catalyst charact erization and kinetic measurements has been used, in an attempt to relate t he rate of these redox processes to the catalytic performance observed unde r oxidative dehydrogenation conditions. (C) 1999 Academic Press.