Highly Stable Apatite Supported Molybdenum Oxide Catalysts for Selective Oxidation of Methanol to Formaldehyde: Structure, Activity and Stability

Molybdenum oxide (5 to 20 wt.%) supported on calcium or strontium hydroxyapatite were investigated as catalysts for selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. These catalysts were both active and selective, with a maximum yield achieved at 95 % conversion and 96 % selectivity. The main byproducts were CO (3.2 %) and dimethyl ether (DME, 0.7 %). The catalytic performance of the catalysts was measured for up to 600 h at 350 °C. Compared to...