Preparation of CMI-1 supported H3+xPMo12-xVxO40 for the selective oxidation of propylene

Catalysts, comprising 30 wt.% of heteropolyacids (HPAs) H 3+xPMo 12-xV xO 40 (x = 0-3) supported on a mesoporous material CMI-1 by dry impregnation were characterized by several techniques. Their catalytic performances were compared to those of bulk HPAs in the propylene oxidation by molecular oxygen at 350°C. The supported HPAs exhibit higher catalytic activity in propylene oxidation than the bulk ones and favoured the formation of acrolein, acetaldehyde and acetic acid, compared to the mother catalysts which lead only to the formation of COx. The enhanced oxidation catalytic activity of supported systems was attributed to the fine dispersion of H 3+xPMo 12-xVxO 40 species on the CMI-1 mesoporous material via physical adsorption, together with the fact that the structure of both CMI-1 and HPAs remained intact during the impregnation. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.