The oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of n-butane, butenes and butadiene over
VMgO catalyst containing 30 wt.% V2O5 was investigated. Reactivity of hydr
ocarbons in ODH decreases in the order 2-butenes > 1-butene > n-butane much
greater than butadiene. Butenes are easily converted, exhibiting a 64% sel
ectivity to butadiene while a small part 5% is isomerized. The intermediate
products (butenes, butadiene and carbon monoxide) were added to the feed i
n order to get information on the relative importance of primary and second
ary reactions. Analysis of the experimental results, derived from adding of
intermediate products, led to the proposal of a reaction network comprisin
g of 10 consecutive and parallel steps and the calculation of the reaction
rate of each step. The catalyst showed significant activity in the absence
gas phase oxygen, indicating the participation of lattice oxygen in the ODH
of n-butane. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.