Performance of Mo12Bi1.0Co4.4Fe1.0K0.07Ox catalysts prepared from a sol–gel solution containing added ethylene glycol in the partial oxidation of propylene to acrylic acid Original Research Article

The performance of Mo12Bi1.0Co4.4Fe1.0K0.07Ox mixed metal-oxide catalysts, which were prepared from a sol–gel solution containing different amounts of pre-added ethylene glycol (EG), in the partial oxidation of propylene was investigated. Addition of EG decreased the catalytic activity, but increased the selectivity for the production of acrolein and acrylic acid, particularly when EG was added in an amount of 15 mol%. The selectivity increased because the strength of propylene adsorption decreased on the catalysts that contained the optimal amounts of crystalline Bi2Mo3O12 and Bi2MoO6, as in the case of modification with 15 mol% of EG. The selectivity was further enhanced because the number of acidic sites decreased and consequently the full oxidation of propylene was suppressed by EG addition.