Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane.

A series of X-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts with different vanadium content (X = 3.3, 5.3, 7.0, 10.2, and 13.4) were prepared by a single-step citric acid-derived sol-gel method for use in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane to n-butene and 1,3-butadiene. The effect of vanadium content of X-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts on their physicochemical properties and catalytic activities in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane was investigated. Successful formation of X-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts was confirmed by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and ICP-AES analyses. The catalytic performance of X-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts strongly depended on vanadium content. All the X-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalysts showed a stable catalytic performance without catalyst deactivation during the reaction. Among the catalysts tested, 7.0-Mg3(VO4)2-MgO-ZrO2 nano-catalyst showed the best catalytic performance in terms of yield for total dehydrogenation products (TDP, n-butene and 1,3-butadiene). TPRO (temperature-programmed reoxidation) experiments were carried out to measure the oxygen capacity of the catalyst. Experimental results revealed that oxygen capacity of the catalyst was closely related to the catalytic performance. Yield for TDP increased with increasing oxygen capacity of the catalyst.