Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Partial oxidation of ethane over supported vanadium pentoxide catalysts

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis; (USA)

The partial oxidation of ethane has been studied on silica-supported V{sub 2}O{sub 5} catalyst in a fix-bed continuous-flow reactor at 775-823 K. The temperature-programmed reduction of V{sub 2}O{sub 5} was also investigated. Using N{sub 2}O as oxidant, the main oxidation products were ethylene, acetaldehyde, CO, and CO{sub 2}. Small amounts of CH{sub 4}, and C{sub 3}- and C{sub 4}-hydrocarbons were also identified. The selectivities for ethylene and acetaldehyde at 823 K were 57.5 and 5.1%, respectively. The introduction of water increased the rate of acetaldehyde and CO formation, but decreased that of ethylene. Kinetic orders were determined for all products. The activation energies for the formation of C{sub 2}H{sub 4}, CH{sub 3}CHO, CO, and CO{sub 2} were 47.7, 33.3, 27.9, and 21.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Using O{sub 2} as oxidant, the same products were observed, but the conversion was higher and selectivities were lower. The addition of water to the reacting mixture enhanced the selectivity toward ethylene and acetaldehyde formation. A possible mechanism for the oxidation reaction is proposed.

OSTI ID:
6352324
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (USA) Vol. 123:1; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English