Claims
- 1. A method for the preparation of maleic anhydride which comprises passing saturated hydrocarbons containing 4 to 10 carbon atoms, having at least 4 carbon atoms in a straight chain, at temperatures of from about 350.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. through a phosphorus-vanadium-oxygen catalyst having a phosphorus to vanadium atom ratio in the range of about 1:2 to 2:1, the catalyst having a porosity of at least about 35% as measured by the apparent density of said catalyst (in gm/cc) as determined by mercury displacement at standard atmospheric pressure, multiplied by the pore volume of said catalyst (in cc/gm) determined by volume of mercury forced into pores of said catalyst under a pressure of 15,000 pounds per square inch, prepared by the steps which comprise:
- (A) contacting vanadium and phosphorus compounds under conditions which will provide a catalyst precursor wherein greater than 50 atom percent of the vanadium is tetravalent vanadium;
- (B) recovering the catalyst precursor;
- (C) forming the catalyst precursor into structures; and
- (D) calcining the catalyst precursors.
- 2. A method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst has a phosphorus to vanadium atom ratio in the range of about 1:1 to about 1.2:1.
- 3. A method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon is n-butane.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 471,117, filed May 17, 1974, now abandoned, which is a division application of pending prior application Ser. No. 330,354 filed Feb. 7, 1973.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
330354 |
Feb 1973 |
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
471117 |
May 1975 |
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