Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane to butene was carried out over VOx/SiO2 catalyst. The effect of VOx loading amount and adding MgO on the catalytic behavior of the catalyst was investigated. Results showed that as considering the reactant conversion and objective products selectivities comprehensively, the optimal VOx loading amount was 3%; adding MgO to VOx/SiO2 catalyst could enhance the slectivities of n-butene and 1,3-butadiene, side reactions such as cracking of n-butane could be suppressed and the total yield of butenes was increased.

Key words: MgO-doped VOx/SiO2 catalyst, n-butane, Oxidative Dehydrogenation, MgO modification