The Vapor-Phase Oxidation of Benzene over a Vanadium Oxide Catalyst

The kinetics of the reaction of benzene with oxygen over a vanadium oxide/potassium sulphate-promoted catalyst have been studied in a differential flow reactor. Rates of oxidation of benezene to maleic anhydride, p-benzoquinone and carbon dioxide were measured at temperatures from 350 to 400C. The rate data were correlated by the steady state adsorption model and, by comparison with previous published results, it was concluded that this model provides a valuable means of correlating and interpreting catalytic oxidation rate data. Earlier data for benzene oxidation on the same catalyst were critically evaluated and a possible source of error was suggested. (Author)