Thermogravimetric analysis of vanadium phosphorus oxide catalysts doped with cobalt and iron

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/A:1010162018622

The transformation of VOHPO₄·0.5H₂O (VPO) precursor doped with cobalt or iron for n-butane oxidation to maleic anhydride was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis under air and nitrogen, with and without n-butane in the flow. While almost no effect was observed in nitrogen or air, a strong influence of the doping was observed when n-butane was added to the nitrogen or air. This resulted in a delay of the decomposition of the precursor and a further reoxidation of the VPO catalyst, particularly for doping with cobalt at low percentage (1%). This shows that doping can change the oxidation state of vanadium phosphorus oxide catalysts, which can explain differences in their catalytic performances and the favourable effect of doping by cobalt.