Kinetic investigations on the oxidehydrogenation of propane over vanadium supported on γ-Al2O3

This work deals with the experimental determination of the reaction kinetic of the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane and the evaluation of possible competitive reactions. The reaction network, composed of consecutive and simultaneous reactions, with kinetics expressed through simple power law equations, involves 18 unknown variables (12 order of reaction and 6 kinetic constants). They were determined through non-linear regression analysis. The overall reaction scheme was broken up for convenience and the three sub-schemes were separately investigated. Experimental measurements were carried out in a isothermal differential quartz reactor by varying the ratio between carbon compound (propane, propylene or CO) and oxygen. The chosen operating conditions proved the system was working in kinetic controlling conditions in the temperature range of 653-753 K. A simple rate equation that assumed the reactant adsorption, reaction on the catalyst surface and re-oxidation of the active site through molecular oxygen was used. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.