Synthesis of nanoparticle-built FeVO4 microspheres with improved low temperature catalytic activity in ammoxidation

Abstract FeVO4 microspheres were successfully fabricated by a hydrothermal approach. Characterization results revealed that the FeVO4 microspheres are composed of numerous nanoparticles. In the ammoxidation of 2,6-dichlorotoluene (DCT) to 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (DCBN) catalyzed by FeVO4 microspheres, the conversion of DCT reaches up to 87% at a much lower temperature of 320 °C in comparison to previously reported catalysts (380-420 °C). The reason for this is that irons greatly improve the electron transport, leading to well reduction redox properties of vanadium species which are important to enhance the initial activation efficiency of C-H bond in methyl group.