Kinetics of Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propance over a VMgO Catalyst

Kinetics of the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over a VMgO Catalyst

The reaction kinetics of the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane was studied at 475-550oC over a VMgO catalyst. Vanadium-magnesium-oxides are among the most selective and active catalysts for the dehydrogenation of propane to propylene. Selectivity to propylene up to about 60% was obtained at 10% conversion, but the selectivity decreased with increasing conversion. No oxygenates were detected, the only by-products were CO and CO2. The reaction rate of propane was found to be first order in propane and close to zero order in oxygen, which is in agreement with a Mars van Krevelen mechanism with the activation of the hydrocarbon as the rate determining step. The activation energy of the conversion of propane was found to be 122±6 kJ/mol.