Anaerobic oxidation of isobutane: Catalytic properties of MgV2O6 and Mg2V2O7 prepared by the molten method

The catalytic activity of MV₂O₆ and M₂V₂O₇ type oxides prepared by the molten method (MM) for anaerobic oxidation of isobutane was studied in order to construct a system for the selective oxidation of isobutene using a thin layer reactor. Isobutene, CO and CO₂ were formed by every catalyst tested. The activities for isobutene formation were CuV₂O₆ > ZnV₂O₆, NiV₂O₆, CoV₂O₆ > MgV₂O₆ > MnV₂O₆  CaV₂O₆. Isobutene was a major product over M₂V₂O₇ (MM). Co₂V₂O₇ showed the highest activity and high isobutene selectivity exceeded 90%, demonstrating that Co₂V₂O₇ is a suitable oxide for a thin layer reactor for anaerobic oxidation of isobutane. Partial substitution of Mg by Cu in Mg₂V₂O₇ (MM) improved the activity. It is shown by the oxidation at low O₂ concentration as 2–3% that two types of oxidations occurred simultaneously: isobutene formation by the lattice oxygen ions diffused from the bulk, and CO and CO₂ formation by the oxygen species derived from molecular oxygen in the gas phase.