Niobia-supported Sb–V–O catalysts for propane ammoxidation: effect of catalyst composition on the selectivity to acrylonitrile

The effect of the Sb/V atomic ratio and of the total Sb + V coverage for the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile on niobia-supported V–Sb oxide catalysts is reported. In all cases, acrylonitrile is produced along with propylene and CO2. Depending on the Sb + V coverage two different activity behaviours are reported: below the Sb + V dispersion limit on niobia, the system is predominantly selective to acrylonitrile, this fact has been attributed to exposed Nb centres and to V–Nb–O mixed oxide phases promoted by Sb. At Sb + V loading above monolayer coverage, the system is also selective to acrylonitrile but product distribution is clearly different and characteristic of SbVO4 phases, affording selectivities to propylene similar to those to acrylonitrile.