Search

Abstract: Vanadium-doped iron phosphates (with 1, 3 and 5wt.% V) were prepared and characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-DRS, TPR, TEM, Laser Raman, XPS, and potentiometric titration techniques. Both undoped and V-doped catalysts displayed predominant formation of quartz type iron phosphate. In addition, the V-doped catalysts indicated formation of two more phases: V2O5 and (VO)2P2O7. The nitrile yield of V-doped catalysts in the ammoxidation of methyl pyrazine to cyanopyrazine were found to be higher than the yield of bulk FePO4, V2O5 and (VO)2P2O7. The increase in the redox property of the catalyst, as obtained by benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde, was found to be the reason for enhanced activity. The variation of V-content in FePO4 revealed that the catalyst reached its optimum activity at 3wt.% V. However, the acid strength of the V-doped catalysts decreased with V-content and this reflected in their cyanopyrazine selectivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ammoxidation of methylpyrazine (MP) to cyanopyrazine (CP) was performed at 633–693K over iron phosphate catalysts having a P/Fe ratio of 1.2, obtained by adopting different methods of catalyst preparation. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-DRS, laser-Raman spectroscopy, TPR, TEM, XPS, acidity by Potentiometric titration and TPD of NH3. XRD and Raman data suggested predominant formation of quartz phase of iron phosphate. The structure and texture of the catalysts varied with the nature of starting material as well as the preparation method. The catalytic activity depended on the extent of quartz phase formation. Precipitation in the basic medium improved quartz phase formation and enhanced the activity. However, the decreased acid strength caused reduction in nitrile selectivity. A judicious combination of the redox and acid strength properties is required for obtaining maximum yield of CP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]