OXIDATION OF TOLUENE ON UNSUPPORTED LaVO3 AND SUPPORTED LaVO3/Al2O3 PEROVSKITES

Abstract

The heterogeneous catalytic vapour phase oxidation of toluene gave benzeldehyde, benzoic acid, maleic acid and CO2 as products over LaVO3 and LaVO3 supported on Al2O3 as catalysts. The LaVO3/Al2O3 has been found to be the most active and selective catalyst giving 72.8% selectivity for benzaldehyde at 450˚C with surface area 45.6m/g. The kinetic analysis indicates that the oxidation is first order. The order of catalytic reactivity is LaVO3/Al2O3> LaVO3 .The activatio energy (Ea) values for LaVO3/Al2O3 and LaVO3 are 16.44 KJ/mole and 26.14 KJ/mole respectively.