Vapor phase oxidation of 4-fluorotoluene over vanadia–titania catalyst

Abstract

The vapor phase oxidation of 4-fluorotoluene has been carried out over vanadia–titania catalysts with moderate conversion and selectivity for 4-fluorobenzaldehyde. Two series of V2O5/TiO2 catalysts with 1–10 mol% vanadia were prepared by sol–gel technique using vanadium and titanium peroxide as vanadia and titania precursors respectively and by impregnation technique using vanadium peroxide on anatase titania support. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, NH3-TPD, FT-IR and BET surface area measurements. The XRD of the catalysts prepared by impregnation technique showed retention of the anatase titania whereas the catalysts prepared by sol–gel technique showed the formation of rutile titania with minor amount of anatase phase at lower vanadia content (1–3%), which completely transformed into anatase phase at higher vanadia loading. The samples prepared by sol–gel method showed higher acidity and surface area compared to the samples prepared by impregnation. Pyridine adsorption study by FT-IR revealed the presence of Lewis acidity at lower vanadia loading (1–3%) and presence of both Lewis as well as Bronsted acidity at higher vanadia loading. The catalytic activity for oxidation of 4-fluorotoluene increased with vanadia loading in the sol–gel catalysts. The catalysts prepared by impregnation technique were found to be less active. However the selectivity for 4-fluorobenzaldehyde decreased with increase in vanadia content. The influence of vanadia loading, reaction temperature and contact time on the catalytic activity for 4-fluorotoluene oxidation has been investigated. The structure of the catalyst and its catalytic activity has been correlated