Ethylene and Propylene Conversion over Molybdenum Oxide Catalysts Supported on γ-Alumina and Silica Gel

Abstract The physicochemical properties of supported molybdenum-containing catalysts, the state of the active component, and the activity and selectivity of the catalysts in the ethylene-to-propylene conversion and propylene metathesis reactions were studied. It was shown that the activity of molybdenum-containing catalysts in ethylene and propylene conversion grows with an increase in the number of medium and strong acid sites on their surface. The alumina-supported catalyst is active at temperatures of 100–250°C, whereas the silica gel-based catalyst requires temperatures of up to 500°C. The higher activity of the MoO3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in metathesis reactions is attributed to the formation of highly dispersed molybdenum species and Brønsted acid sites.