Iron Molybdate Catalyst Stabilized by Calcium Oxide for Methanol to Formaldehyde Conversion

Abstract

Regularities of methanol oxidation by atmospheric oxygen on the catalyst Fe 2 (MoO 4) 3 /MoO 3 /CaO = = 1 : 0.7 : 0.3 have been studied. It was found that the speed of the process in a model flow reactor obeys the first order equation with the observed rate constant of 1.0 sec −1 and the apparent activation energy of 65 kJ/mol. It was established that the selectivity of formaldehyde in the process with once-through conversion over 45 % sharply decreases. The mechanism of alcohols heterogeneous catalytic oxidation, including the stages of organic compounds interaction both with metal cations and oxygen atoms of the catalyst surface was suggested.