Synthesis, characterization and catalytic properties of vanadium aluminophosphate molecular sieves VAPO-31 and VAPSO-Amr from non-aqueous media Original Research Article

Vanadium samples containing aluminophosphate molecular sieve (VAPO-31) and amorphous vanadium silicoaluminophosphate (VAPSO-Amr) have been synthesized using hexamethyleneimine template from non-aqueous media for the first time. XRD and SEM analyses confirm the phase purity of the synthesized samples. FT-IR analysis suggests the incorporation of V4+ in the aluminophosphate framework. ESR, UV–vis spectroscopic, and XPS techniques and cyclicvoltametric studies confirm the incorporation of vanadium and reveal its presence in tetrahedral and square pyramidal environments in the as-synthesized samples. Cyclic voltammetry reveals the presence of two redox couples in VAPO-31. This catalyst is found to be a good oxidation catalyst. Although most of the properties of VAPO-31NA and VAPSO-Amr are similar, the latter can access more vanadium and V4+ ions. Compared to aqueous media samples, it can incorporate more vanadium especially V5+ ions and has been found to be better oxidation catalyst. The physicochemical properties also change with media.