IMPROVEMENT OF ACETONE YIELD IN THE OXIDATION OF PROPYLENE

The outstanding property of the SnO//2 - MoO//3 catalyst in the oxidation of propylene to acetone was confirmed by tests of various oxide catalysts supported on pumice. The optimum composition was found to be SnO//2-70/MoO//3-30 mol% for the oxidation at from 170 to 260 degree C. It is also found that this pumice-supported catalyst is sufficiently selective for the acetone formation even at a high temperature of 260 degree C, and that it gives a high yield of acetone while keeping its high selectivity. The selectivity increases up to 90 mol% with an increase in the partial pressure of water vapor and with a decrease in the oxygen partial pressure. On the basis of such information, it can be said that a high yield of acetone can be obtained by the divided introduction of oxygen.