Site isolation of V active sites has been often correlated to catalytic performance for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to propylene. In particular, catalyst selectivity seems favoured by high V dispersion. The latter property is hardly attainable by traditional preparation methods, especially by impregnation except at very low V loading, which however may lead to a too high surface exposure of the acidic sites of the support. In this paper, the effect of the preparation procedure on catalyst properties has been investigated, particularly considering catalysts prepared by flame pyrolysis, a synthesis method which induced a very high V dispersion also at relatively high vanadium loading.Transmission electron microscopy also allowed us to assess V oxide dispersion depending on both the support type and the preparation method. Furthermore, the local structure of the V active sites has been deeply investigated by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, allowing us to propose a possible structure of the active sites.The average oxidation state of surface V species was then studied by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), showing a role of V oxidation state on catalyst selectivity. The catalytic performance has been interpreted on the basis of V species and catalyst acidity (as measured by IR spectroscopy), another fundamental parameter that in turn results to be correlated with V dispersion on different supports. More selective catalysts were indeed characterized by the presence of weaker Brønsted acidic sites.Keywords: Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane; Propylene production; V-based catalysts; X-ray absorption.
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-IntroductionLight olefins are important building blocks for polymers and intermediates industry 1 . The need for light olefins is progressively growing, with a higher rate for propene, leading to the necessity of alternative production routes 2 . Direct dehydrogenation can be an interesting alternative when low value feedstock is available. However, it is an endothermal reaction needing a high energy input, it is equilibrium controlled and the catalyst may be easily deactivated by coking. The oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light paraffins to the corresponding olefins has been proposed as a means to overcome all these limitations. In addition, oxygen limits severe catalyst coking 3 . In spite of the considerable attention paid to this process and testified by a certain number of patents (see e.g. 4,5 and references therein), the ODH technology can be hardly considered mature and it has not yet reached industrial application due to selectivity issues. Indeed, oxygen should ideally consume H 2 , but paraffins and (most of all) olefins combustion is an unavoidable side reaction, w...