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

Abstract

Mixed oxide with composition Mo0.65V0.25W 0.10Ox 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 Mo5O 14-type oxide with minor amount of MoO3-type and MoO 2-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 Mo5O 14-type material. � 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.