Cobalt molybdate/alumina acidity

Early catalysts for acrolein synthesis were based on cuprous oxide and other heavy metal oxides deposited on inert siHca or alumina supports (39). Later, catalysts more selective for the oxidation of propylene to acrolein and acrolein to acryHc acid were prepared from bismuth, cobalt, kon, nickel, tin salts, and molybdic, molybdic phosphoric, and molybdic siHcic acids. Preferred second-stage catalysts generally are complex oxides containing molybdenum and vanadium. Other components, such as tungsten, copper, tellurium, and arsenic oxides, have been incorporated to increase low temperature activity and productivity (39,45,46). 

However, the molybdenum-alumina and the high calcined cobalt-molybdenum-alumina samples still show an important difference. The pyridine spectra of MoCo-124 indicate a second Lewis acid site, characterized by the 1612 cm-1 band. This band differs from the weak Lewis acid sites of the alumina support (1614 cm- ) because the position is significantly different. It also appears that the strength of the bond between pyridine and the catalyst is stronger, for the 1612 cm-1 band is still present after evacuation at 250°C, while the weak Lewis band (1614 cm-1) of the alumina has disappeared at this desorption temperature. Obviously the second Lewis band for the MoCo-124 catalyst is introduced by the interaction of cobalt with the surface molybdate layer. This interaction is... 

The molybdate surface layer in the molybdenum-alumina samples is characterized by the presence of BrGnsted acid sites ( 1545 cm- ) and one type of strong Lewis acid sites (1622 cm l). Cobalt or nickel ions are brought on this surface on impregnation of the promotor. The absence of BrtSnsted acid sites is observed for both cobalt and nickel impregnated catalysts, calcined at the lower temperatures (400-500°C). Also a second Lewis band is observed at 1612 cnrl.The reflection spectra of these catalysts indicate that no cobalt or nickel aluminate phase has been formed at these temperatures. This indicates that the cobalt and nickel ions are still present on the catalyst surface and neutralize the Brdnsted acid sites of the molybdate layer. These configurations will be called "cobalt molybdate" and "nickel molybdate" and are shown schematically in Figure 11a. 

These experiments indicate that at low calcination temperatures the cobalt ions are present on the catalyst surface and neutralize the Brdnsted acid sites of the molybdate surface layer. At the higher calcination temperatures, the cobalt ions move into the alumina lattice. The BrGnsted acid sites reappear, indicating that the situation on the molybdate surface is restored. 

Alumina catalysts activated by additions of dehydrogenating catalysts, e.g., nickel oxide, copper oxide or sulfide, zinc oxide or sulfide, cobalt selenide, zinc phosphate, cadmium tungstate, mixtures of the oxides of zinc and tungsten, of cadmium and molybdenum, etc., are claimed to be superior in the formation of acetaldehyde from mixtures of steam and acetylene at 350° to 400° C.l-la Zinc oxide catalysts may be activated in a similar way by the addition of small amounts of molybdates or molybdic acid, and are effective at 300° to 350° C.121b... 

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