Enhancement of the catalytic performance of V2O5/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts in the oxidehydrogenation of propane to propylene by the use of a monolith-type reactor

The catalytic performance of a gamma-Al2O3-supported vanadium oxide catalyst in the oxidehydrogenation of propane to propylene was compared when the catalyst was used in the form of granules (packed fixed-bed reactor), and when the V2O5/gamma-Al2O3 was coated in the form of a thin layer over a cylindrical ceramic support (monolith-type reactor configuration). A considerable enhancement of the catalytic performance was achieved in the latter case, because the consecutive reaction of propylene overoxidation, responsible for a remarkable decrease in selectivity at high conversions in packed-bed reactors, was minimized.