Oxidation of 3- and 4-Methylpyridines on Vanadium-Anatase and Vanadium-Rutile Catalysts
<p>Heterogeneous catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of methylpyridines is “green”, the most simple and perspective method for obtaining pyridinecarboxylic acids. Vanadium-titanium catalysts have a wide application in some important industrial processes of oxidation. Oxidation of 3-and 4-methylpyridine on vanadium-titanium catalysts has been investigated and for its preparation various titanium crystal modifications were used. Characterization of the catalysts was carried out by using the X-ray diffraction, N<sub>2</sub>-adsorbtion and thermal dissociation of V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>. It was found that the use of anatase type of TiO<sub>2</sub> with a higher BET surface area enhances the activity of the vanadium-titanium catalyst extremely. XRD-characterization of catalysts demonstrated that the only V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and anatase or V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and rutile phase was detected. It was established that the use of titanium dioxide of crystal modifications of anatase increases on the order of the dissociation rate V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>. It was shown that vanadium-titanium catalysts’ activity and selectivity in investigated processes depends on TiO<sub>2</sub> crystal modifications.V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-anatase is more active and selective in formation of pyridine carboxylic acids. V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-rutile in the process of oxidation of 4-methylpyridine on the catalyst forms the mixture of isonicotinic acid and its aldehyde. Connection between the dissociation rate of V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in catalysts of V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-anatase and V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-rutile and their activity in isomeric methylpyridines oxidation was established. High surface area, anatase structure of titanium are the key parameters determining the activity and selectivity of vanadium-titanium oxidation catalysts.</p>