Gas-phase oxidation over metals

Indeed, this pathway is followed in many gas phase oxidations over metal oxide catalysts, such as vanadium pentoxide and bismuth molybdate. It is generally referred to as the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism after its original... 

Gas-phase oxidation over metal oxides. There is one particularly important finding common to essentially all metal oxide catalysts which provide rapid, moderately selective oxidations of organic substrates. If the supply of oxygen is interrupted, oxidation of the organic substrate continues, initially with little change in rate and selectivity. The oxide system becomes reduced, and tens, or even hundreds, of atomic layers below the surface become oxygen deficient. What are the implications ... 

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