The influence of molybdenum oxide as a promoter on the V2O5/Nb2O5 system was investigated. A series of MoO3/V2O5/Nb2 O5 catalysts, with MoO3 loading ranging from 1 to 3 wt% MoO3 and fixed V2O5 content (21 wt%), were prepared by impregnation of the Nb2O5 support with an aqueous solution of ammonium metavanadate and ammonium molybdate. The acid-base properties of the catalysts were investigated to determine of the selectivity of the isopropanol decomposition reaction. The X-ray diffraction results showed the presence of the beta-(Nb,V)2O5 phase. The temperature-programmed reduction profiles showed that the reducibility of vanadium was affected by the presence of molybdenum oxide. Activity results for isopropanol decomposition revealed that the acid-base properties of V2O5/Nb2O5 catalysts are affected upon incorporation of MoO3, specifically for loadings of 3 wt %. For this catalyst composition both propylene and acetone formation rates decreased.

Vanadium oxide supported on hydrotalcite-type precursors was studied in the oxidation of isopropanol. Hydrotalcites with different y = Mg/Al ratios were synthesized by the method of coprecipitation nitrates of Mg and Al cations with K2CO3 as precipitant. The decomposition of these hydrotalcite precursors at 450°C yielded homogeneous MgyAlOx mixed oxides that contain the Al+3 cations totally incorporated into the MgO framework. The materials were characterized by chemical analysis, BET superficial area, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and the reaction of isopropanol, a probe molecule used to evaluate the acid-base properties. The results of TPR showed that the reducibility of V+5 decreased with the increase in magnesium loading in catalysts. The X-ray diffraction patterns of Al-rich hydrotalcite precursors showed the presence of crystalline phases of brucite and gibbsite. It was shown that chemical composition, texture, acid-base properties of the active sites and also Mg/Al ratio strongly affect the formation of the products in the oxidation of isopropanol. The Al-rich catalysts were much more active than the Mg-rich ones, converting isopropanol mainly to propylene.