Vapour phase oxidation of 4-methylanisole to anisaldehyde over V2O5 /MgO-Al2O3 catalysts

The vapour phase selective oxidation of 4-methylanisole to anisaldehyde was investigated over different V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalysts at 673 K and normal atmospheric pressure. Among various catalysts investigated the 16 wt% V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalyst provided good conversion and product selectivity. The MgO-Al₂O₃ mixed oxide was obtained by a co-precipitation method and V₂O₅ was impregnated from ammonium metavanadate. The MgO-Al₂O₃ support and various V₂O₅ /MgO-Al₂O₃ catalysts were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, FT-infrared, electron spin resonance, scanning electron microscopy, ammonia and carbon dioxide chemisorption methods. The characterization results suggest that vanadia does not form layer structures on the support surface, instead interacts very strongly with the support, in particular with MgO, and forms amorphous compounds. The NH₃ and CO₂ uptake results provide an interesting information on the acid-base characteristics of these catalysts and correlate with their catalytic properties.