Catalytic properties of platinum-promoted acid cesium salts of molybdophosphoric and molybdovanadophosphoric heteropoly acids in the gas-phase oxidation of benzene to phenol with an O2 + H2 mixture

Acid salts Cs x H3 + n − x PMo12 − n V n O40 (n = 0, 1, 2, or 3; x = 2.5 or 3.5) with coprecipitated or supported platinum were studied using thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. The thermal region of the full stability of these salts is limited by the decomposition temperature of the corresponding acid H3PMo12O40 (∼400°C) or H3 + n PMo12 − n V n O40 (∼300–350°C). The degree of reduction of heteropoly anions with hydrogen is regulated by temperature. Deeply reduced heteropoly anions (at 300°C) are slowly oxidized with oxygen with structure and composition regeneration. The states of molybdenum and vanadium on the surface of samples with coprecipitated platinum Pt0.1-Cs2.5H0.5PMo12O40 (1) and Pt0.1-Cs2.5H2.5PMo10V2O40 (2), which were studied using XPS, correspond to reduced or reoxidized heteropoly anions in the bulk. Platinum metal particles of ∼5 nm in size were observed in high-resolution TEM images obtained after the reduction and storage of sample 1 in air. A heteropoly compound forms two texture levels: spherical nanoparticles of 10–20 nm in size are collected in closely packed globules of 100–300 nm in size. Detailed texture studies, which were performed using nitrogen adsorption isotherms, demonstrated texture mobility under the ambient conditions. The cesium salts of the heteropoly acids were tested in the gas-phase oxidation of benzene to phenol with an O2 + H2 mixture at 180°. The effect of platinum concentration on the specific catalytic activity in the presence of deeply reduced heteropoly anions was monitored. The samples containing the salt Cs2.5H0.5PMo12O40 exhibited the highest activity in the formation of phenol. The introduction of vanadium into the heteropoly anion impaired the catalytic performance of both deeply and slightly reduced samples.