Different ratios of vanadium pentoxide supported on aluminum phosphate (1–30 mol%) have been prepared by an impregnation method. The original and calcined samples were characterized by TG, DTG, DSC, X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, N2 adsorption and electrical conductivity measurements. The catalytic decomposition of ethanol has been carried out at 210 °C in a flow system at 1 atm using air as a carrier gas. The results indicate that the catalysts calcined at 400 °C were active and selective towards ethene formation whereas the samples calcined at 600 °C showed a drastic reduction in both activity and selectivity.

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