ABSTRACT
The oxidation of 2-butanone over V2O5 in the presence of steam produces acetic acid and acetaldehyde quite selectively with 2,3-butanedione and carbon oxides as other major products. It has been observed on VPO that addition of water leads to enhanced activity and selectivity to acetic acid and acetaldehyde and decreased selectivity to 2,3-butanedione. The objective of this chapter is to elucidate if and how water affects the oxidation reaction of 2-butanone. The rate of oxidation of 2-butanone over V2O5 increased with increasing partial pressures of water, from 20% conversion at 0% water to 50% at 24% water in the feed. The weight losses in the thermal gravimetric analyzer experiment due to combustion of carbonaceous species was measured before and after water treatment of the catalyst. Before the water treatment the catalyst lost 0.78 wt%. After water treatment it lost 0.41 wt%. This experiment suggests that water reacts with the carbonaceous deposit.
