Catalysis Letters, Vol.145, No.10, 1868-1875, 2015
Effect of Dispersion of the Active Phase on the Activity and Coke Formation over WO3/SiO2 Catalysts in the Metathesis of Ethylene and 2-Butene
WO3/SiO2 catalysts with various tungsten loadings were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method and studied in the metathesis of ethylene and trans-2-butene as feed to produce propylene. Two different calcination methods were used to modify the dispersion of the tungsten active phase. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, ion-exchange titration, FT-Raman, ammonia temperature programmed desorption and temperature programmed oxidation. Better dispersion is obtained from low heating rate calcination. The dispersion of tungsten showed a direct effect on coke formation and was the key factor to improve the stability of the catalysts.