Influence of Molybdenum on Ceria Activity and CO2 Selectivity in Propene Total Oxidation

A total oxidation of propene into CO₂ is obtained on pure ceria at 673 K. However, in the presence of molybdenum, propene can be partially oxidized at room temperature. The Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) indicates changes in the oxidation state of molybdenum occurring upon interaction with propene. It has been found that the concentration of Mo(V) influences the propene conversion. The interaction between propene and molybdenum leads to the formation of surface species that, depending on the strength of their bonding to the surface, can be decomposed to ethene or coke. These results have been confirmed by infrared (FTIR) study. The oxidation reaction of propene is in competition with that of coke or ethene deposit on the catalyst surface, which can explain the decrease of the catalyst activity and selectivity in the presence of high molybdenum loadings.