Effect of the total activation pressure on the structural and catalytic performance of the SiC supported MoO3-carbon-modified catalyst for the n-heptane isomerization Original Research Article

The formation of a molybdenum oxycarbide active for catalytic isomerization of alkanes is strongly dependent on the total pressure of reactants. High pressures of the hydrogen/hydrocarbon mixture (up to 40 bar) increase the rate of reduction of MoO3 and the rate of diffusion of carbon into the bulk, this favors the formation of the oxycarbide at the expense of MoO2.