MoVW-mixed oxide as a partial oxidation catalyst for methanol to formaldehyde

Abstract

Mixed oxide with composition Mo<inf>0.65</inf>V<inf>0.25</inf>W <inf>0.10</inf>O<inf>x</inf> was synthesized and its catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde was investigated. The characterization by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy reveals that the prepared catalyst is inhomogeneous nanocrystalline Mo<inf>5</inf>O <inf>14</inf>-type oxide with minor amount of MoO<inf>3</inf>-type and MoO <inf>2</inf>-type material. Thermal activation treatment of the catalyst at 813K resulted in better crystalline sample. The overall structural analysis suggests that the catalytic performance of the MoVW-mixed oxide catalyst in partial oxidation of methanol is related to the formation of the Mo<inf>5</inf>O <inf>14</inf>-type material. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.