Evaluation and Structural Characterization of DuPont V-P-O/SiO2 Catalysts

For several decades vanadyl pyrophosphate, (VO)2P2O7, has been used commercially as a catalyst for the partial oxidation of n-butane into maleic anhydride (MA) [1]. However due to the moderate specificity to MA production, many research groups still continue to investigate the V-P-O catalyst system with the aim of further improving its overall performance. Now a specialized form of V-P-O catalyst has been developed by DuPont for use in a fluidized bed reactor, which consists of a V-P-O core encased by a mechanically protective porous silica shell. Selected research centers worldwide have received samples of this material for analysis, aiming at combining the results generated, in an effort to further understand the functionality of the V-P-O catalyst.