Effects of acid leaching post-treatment on the catalytic performance of MoO3/mordenite-alumina catalysts for 1-butene metathesis reaction Original Research Article

Molybdenum oxide supported on mordenite zeolite-alumina composite is post-treated by nitric acid leaching with varying periods (12–48 h). The post-treated molybdenum catalysts display much higher stability for propene formation in 1-butene metathesis reaction. The evolution of Mo species has been characterized by laser Raman, 27Al MAS NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Characterization results have shown the extraction of aluminum molybdates (Al2(MoO4)3) after acid leaching post-treatment. This structural transformation relates to a transition in coke species on the spent molybdenum catalysts, and leads to the improvement in metathesis stability.