Role of the Structure and Electronic Properties of Fe2O3-MoO3 Catalyst on the Dehydration of Isopropyl Alcohol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.65.3450

Molybdenum oxide catalysts doped or mixed with (1-50) molpercent Fe³⁺ ions were prepared.The structure of the original samples and calcined at 400 deg C were characterized using DTA, X-ray diffraction, and IR spectra.The measurements of the electrical conductivity of calcined samples with and without isopropyl alcohol revealed that the conductance increases on the increasing the content of Fe³⁺ ions up to 50 molpercent.The activation energies of charge carriers were determined in presence and absence of alcohol.The catalytic dehydration of isopropyl alcohol was carried out at 250 deg C using flow system.The results obtained showed that the doped or mixed catalysts are active and selective towards propene formation.However, the catalyst containing 40 molpercent Fe³⁺ ions exhibited the highest activity and selectivity.Correlations were attempted between the catalyst composition and their electronic and catalytic properties.Probable mechanism for the dehydration process is proposed in terms of surface active sites.