Claims
- 1. A process for the manufacture of a chloride-free phosphorous-vanadium oxide catalyst suitable for use in the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane consisting essentially of reacting at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. a vanadium compound and a molybdenum co-metal in a glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of methoxyethanol, methoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof with a phosphoric acid; eliminating the glycol ether solvent; and activating the catalyst by the addition of butane or another hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus compound at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.; wherein the weight ratio of any added water to catalyst present in the process prior to activating the catalyst is less than 1.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the vanadium compound is vanadium pentoxide.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the phosphoric acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrous phosphoric acids and anhydrous phosphoric acids.
- 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the phosphoric acid is selected from the group consisting of orthophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acid.
- 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is suspended on an inert support.
- 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the inert support is selected from the group consisting of alumina, titania, silicon carbide, kieselguhr, pumice, and silica.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is calcined in humid air prior to being activated.
- 8. The process of claim 1 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from the group consisting of alkylphosphates, phosphates, phosphines, and mixtures thereof.
- 9. The process of claim 1 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from triethylphosphate and trimethylphosphate.
- 10. A process for the manufacture of a chloride-free catalyst suitable for use in the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane consisting essentially of:
- (1) slurrying a pentavalent vanadium compound, a molybdenum co-metal and phosphoric acid with a glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of methoxyethanol, methoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof;
- (2) refluxing the slurry at from about 0.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. for about 0.5 hours to about 6 hours, to reduce the vanadium from a plus five oxidation state to a plus four oxidation state;
- (3) drying the catalyst to substantially remove the solvent;
- (4) shaping the catalyst in the desired geometric shape; and
- (5) activating the catalyst by the addition of butane or another hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus compound at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.; wherein the weight ratio of any added water to catalyst present in the process prior to activating the catalyst is less than 1.
- 11. The process of claim 10 wherein the shaping step produces a geometric shape comprising a cylinder whose length and diameter are approximately equivalent and range in size from about 1/16 inch to about 1/2 inch.
- 12. The process of claim 11 wherein the length and diameter of the cylinder are approximately 3/16 inch.
- 13. The process of claim 11 wherein the length and diameter of the cylinder are approximately 7/32 inch.
- 14. The process of claim 10 wherein said process is conducted in the substantial absence of added water prior to activating the catalyst and wherein the glycol ether solvent is selected from methoxyethanol methoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof.
- 15. The process of claim 10 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from the group consisting of alkylphosphates, phosphates, phosphines, and mixtures thereof.
- 16. The process of claim 10 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from triethylphosphate and trimethylphosphate.
- 17. A process for the manufacture of a chloride-free phosphorous-vanadium oxide catalyst suitable for use in the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane consisting essentially of reacting at a temperature of about 0.degree. C. to about 200.degree. C. a vanadium compound and a molybdenum co-metal in a glycol ether solvent selected from the group consisting of methoxyethanol, methoxypropanol, and mixtures thereof with a phosphoric acid; eliminating the glycol ether solvent; and activating the catalyst by the addition of butane or another hydrocarbon feedstock and a phosphorus compound at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 500.degree. C.; wherein said process is conducted in the substantial absence of added water prior to activating the catalyst.
- 18. The process of claim 17 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from the group consisting of alkylphosphates, phosphates, phosphines, and mixtures thereof.
- 19. The process of claim 17 wherein said phosphorus compound is selected from triethylphosphate and trimethylphosphate.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/992,621, filed Dec. 18, 1992, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0056901 |
Aug 1982 |
EPX |
0098039 |
Jan 1984 |
EPX |
0466480 |
Jan 1992 |
EPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
992621 |
Dec 1992 |
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