Structure-activity relationship in Sb-V-oxide catalysts for the direct synthesis of acrylonitrile from propane

The structure/compn. and catalytic behavior of Sb-V-oxide catalysts in propane ammoxidn. for prepn. of acrylonitrile were studied. The Sb-V-oxides were prepd. by a novel pptn.-deposition method. The active phase for selective synthesis of acrylonitrile from propane is a tri-rutile-like V-antimonate with Sb5+-oxide supported on it. Vanadium plays a catalytic role in the selective activation of propane and re-oxidn. of antimony, but when present in large amts. on the surface, it catalyzes non-selective conversion NH3→N2 instead. The α-Sb2O4 is a secondary phase, with a marginal or negligible role in the catalytic behavior. [on SciFinder(R)]