Preparation, active component and catalytic properties of supported vanadium catalysts in the reaction of formaldehyde oxidation to formic acid

Abstract The influence of the support nature was investigated with supported vanadium catalysts prepared by a wet impregnation method. SiO 2 , γ-Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 and TiO 2 (anatase) were used as supports. Two series of catalysts were prepared, the first one consisting of catalysts of composition ca. 20% wt. V 2 O 5 /80% wt. support (series 1) and the second one prepared by washing the series 1 samples with nitric acid (series 2). In the catalysts of series 1 (except 20% V 2 O 5 /80% SiO 2 ), vanadium is represented by both monolayer species (monomeric and polymeric VO x ) and crystalline V 2 O 5 phase. When vanadium is supported on SiO 2 , only the crystalline V 2 O 5 is formed. Washing the samples of series 1 with nitric acid removes crystalline V 2 O 5 phase. Monomeric and polymeric vanadia species are more active in the reaction of formaldehyde oxidation to formic acid as compared to V 2 O 5 .