1 research outputs found
Gas phase oxidation of furfural to maleic anhydride on V2O5/g-Al2O3 catalysts: Reaction conditions to slow down the deactivation
An alumina-supported vanadium oxide catalyst (13.9 wt.% vanadium oxide) has been characterized by
different techniques and tested in the gas phase oxidation of furfural. These studies have shown that
the catalyst unavoidably deactivates by deposition of maleates and resins over the surface. Full regeneration
is accomplished by burning off these deposits at 773 K. The studies have also demonstrated that if
the primary contact occurs at temperatures at which furfural conversion is low and then the temperature
is increased in a low- to high-temperature mode, intense deposition of maleates and resins takes place
and the catalyst is rapidly deactivated. The increase of the temperature does not result in removal of
deposits but accelerates the deposition. Under this protocol, the yield of maleic anhydride never
exceeded 30%, irrespective of the reaction conditions (temperature and O2/furfural mole ratio). In contrast,
if the catalyst first contacts the reaction mixture at high oxidizing potential, then the rate of maleate
and resin deposition is much slower, and so is the deactivation rate, and the catalyst can display a higher
yield of maleic anhydride for a longer period of time. A high oxidizing potential can be attained at a high
reaction temperature (close to full conversion). A higher oxidizing potential at a given high temperature
can be accomplished by increasing the O2/furfural mole ratio. Thus, for example, first contacting the catalyst
at 593 K (full conversion), 1 vol.% of furfural, and O2/furfural mole ratio = 10, obtained an initial
maleic anhydride yield of 68%, and the yield was still greater than 50% after 15 h on stream. On contacting
at 573 K with 1 vol.% furfural and 20 vol.% O2, the maleic anhydride yield was initially close to 75% and
was above 60% after 15 h.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness is gratefully acknowledged Project (CTQ2015-64226-C3-1-R).Peer Reviewe