Vanadium oxide-based catalysts: still the basis for research and new findings in selective oxidation

Vanadium oxide is the main component of catalysts for selective oxidation reactions, in the form of dispersed oxide over supports, in multi-component mixed oxides, or incorporated inside inert or reactive matrixes. Some examples of the nature of the active site in V oxide-based catalysts and the effect of reaction conditions on its characteristics will be discussed: (a) the nature of the active layer in V/P/O, the catalyst for n-butane oxidation to maleic anhydride; (b) the role of V in V-polyoxometalates for liquid phase oxidations with oxygen, and (c) the nature of the active site in supported V oxide for propane oxidative dehydrogenation and o-xylene oxidation to phthalic anhydride.