Synthesis and catalytic activity of vanadium phosphorous oxides systems supported on silicon carbide for the selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride.

VPO catalysts supported on silicon carbide were prepared using the solvothermal method. A decrease the reaction temperature by 70 °C under application of SiC, prepared from sucrose and fumed silica, as a support for an active VPO phase compared to a bulk VPO catalyst prepared under similar synthesis conditions was demonstrated. A twofold increase of the productivity towards maleic anhydride was reached. The higher specific reaction rate of n-butane oxidation over prepared supported VPO-SiC systems compared to the bulk VPO catalyst was shown. Use of an environmentally safe support allowed to reduce an amount of active vanadium-containing phase, and an application of the solvothermal method decreased the synthesis duration and an amount of organic solvent compared to the traditional approaches to the synthesis of VPO systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]