Surface properties of Fe₂O₃-SiO₂ mixed oxide and the activity for but-1-ene reaction

Abstract

The oxidative dehydrogenation and isomerization of but-1-ene were studied over Fe₂O₃-SiO₂ catalysts of different composition. It was observed that the activity and selectivity to buta-1,3-diene increased markedly on adding a small amount of SiO₂ to Fe₂O₃. To examine the activity and the mechanism of these reactions, an experiment with deuterium isotope tracer, as well as an infrared study, was carried out. On the basis of the results, it was concluded that the ally1 intermediate mechanism was operative for but-1-ene isomerization and buta-1,3-diene formation over Fe₂O₃-rich catalysts, and the carbenium ion mechanism was operative for but-1-ene isomerization over SO₂-rich catalysts.