Comparison of a VO x -TiO2 and a VO x /SbO y -TiO2 Industrial Catalyst in the Oxidative Scission of Methyl Ethyl Ketone and 2-Butanol to Acetic Acid

Abstract

The oxidative scission of methyl ethyl ketone and 2-butanol on a VO x -TiO2 and a VO x /SbO y -TiO2 catalyst was studied in the temperature range of 120 to 280°C in the presence of water vapour. The catalytic performance of the two catalysts was investigated by variation of reaction temperature and contact time, and the catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, TPR-H2, TPD-NH3, and temperature programmed desorption of lattice oxygen (TPD-O2). The investigations indicate that the addition of Sb2O3 to VO x -TiO2 favours the selective formation of acetic acid and depresses total oxidation to CO x in the catalytic oxidation of methyl ethyl ketone and 2-butanol due to changes in the redox properties of the VO x -TiO2 system. Moreover, the higher acidity of the VO x -TiO2 catalyst favours the dehydration of 2-butanol to n-butenes.