Vanadium Oxide Supported on Al-modified Titania Nanotubes for Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

In this study, characterization of vanadia supported on Al-modified titania nanotubes (TiNTs) synthesized by the alkaline hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powders has been reported. A promising catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane was prepared via the incipient wetness impregnation method. The morphology and crystalline structure of TiNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TiNTs provided large specific surface areas of about 408m2/gr and 1.603cm3/gr for pore volume. Rapid sintering and anatase to rutile phase transformation occurred in presence of vanadia in the catalysts at high calcination temperature. Al-promoted TiNTs considerably inhibited the loss of surface area so that a superior catalytic activity was observed in the ODH of propane along with amelioration of structural properties. The results showed 49.7% increase in propane conversion and 22.6% increase in propylene production at 500οC for Al-modified catalyst.