Interaction of vanadium containing catalysts with microwaves and their activation in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

Microwave (MW)-activated oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane is studied using kinetic approach. It consists in the comparison of kinetic dependencies (shape of kinetic equations, “selectivity or yield vs. conversion” curves) and apparent parameters (activation energies) obtained in thermal and MW modes. In the case of VMo and VMoNb oxides a distinct difference between ethane yields was observed at given conversion of limiting reactant (oxygen). It was proven by X-ray diffraction that MW activation changes the catalyst microstructure forming phase distribution different from that formed under a conventional heating and thus changing catalytic behavior of VMo and VMoNb oxides.