Role of the Structural and Electronic Properties of Molybdenum Trioxide Catalysts on the Structure-Sensitive Oxidation of Methanol to Formaldehyde

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF00809275

As catalysts for selective oxidation, molybdenum trioxide catalysts-prepared by two different methods-have been investigated.The results of vapor-phase oxidation of methanol are discussed on the basis of the acidic property, oxidizing functions, and the crystallographic structure of the catalysts.It was found that the acidic property is not the sole factor deciding the catalytic activity.Electrical conductivity measurements proved that molecular oxygen in the gas feed is necessary for maintaining the catalysts active.The difference in the catalytic activity and selectivity were reasonable interpreted in view of the structure sensitivity of those catalysts.A redox mechanism is also discussed in this paper. - Keywords.Molybdenum trioxide; Structure-sensitive oxidation of methanol.