Heterogeneous Catalytic Oxidation of Acrolein to Acrylic Acid: Mechanism and Catalysts

Abstract Partial oxidation of acrolein is a commercially important reaction, its product—acrylic acid—being widely used industrially for producing resins, dyes, glues, nonwoven fabrics, etc. Partial oxidation of acrolein is also a convenient model reaction because: (1) the number of reaction products is moderate (CO, CO2, acrylic acid) and (2) their difference in acid-base properties from the starting material makes it possible to select desirable catalysts by applying directly and efficiently Boreskov's concept of intermediate chemical interaction of a catalyst with reaction mixture components. According to this concept [1], the transformation of surface intermediates (SI) formed in the interaction of reactants with a catalyst's surface is determined by the structure and bond energy of these SI. The study of the reaction mechanism includes determination of structures and energy characteristics of the surface intermediates and the elucidation of their connection with catalyst chemical composition and reac...