Cesium promotion of iron phosphate catalyst and influence of steam on the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutyric acid to methacrylic acid

When cesium is added to iron phosphates in the oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutyric acid to methacrylic acid, both catalytic and non catalytic reactivities of the catalyst are modified, with or without steam. It is shown that both cesium and steam are responsible for regulation of the redox mechanism, and for stabilization of the catalysts by decreasing coke formation.