Vanadium phosphorus oxides, a reference catalyst for mild oxidation of light alkanes: a review

Vanadium phosphorus oxides (VPO) are very promising materials for the mild oxidation of light alkanes. This is obvious from the considerable knowledge of the physicochemistry of the VPO catalytic system for which many complem entary techniques have been used. The present stare of the art and the poss ibilities for the development, in the future, of such a family of catalysts are discussed. It is highly possible that the discovery of new industrial processes for the oxidation of alkanes will stem from the improvement of va nadium phosphorus oxide catalysts. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences / Edition s scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.