CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF 1-BUTENE - EFFECT OF OXYGEN PRESSURE.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/i360053a004

In designing a hydrocarbon oxidation process of the vapor phase catalytic type, a general problem faced is whether to use air, enriched air, or pure oxygen. The choice has usually been based on considerations such as the cost of pure oxygen, the facility of separating products, the amount of heat produced by the reaction, and the necessity of recycling the reagents. However, consideration has not been given to the influence that the partial pressure of oxygen has on the catalysts' selectivity in oxidation reactions. As MnMoO//4 shows close analogies in structural properties to beta -FeMoO//4, a CoMoO//4, and CdMoO//4, the catalytic activity of all these compounds were investigated under a wide range of experimental conditions to clarify the role of oxygen in the oxidation of 1-butene. It has been found that the partial pressure of oxygen is a key for modifying the selectivity of the investigated catalysts.