Vanadia species formed on the surface depend on the K/V atomic ratio. At small K/V ratios, Raman spectra show the formation of the K-doped and K-perturbed monomeric species. At K/V = 1, kristalline KVO3 is mainly present on the surface. In situ high temperature XRD-results exhibit a promoting effect on the anatase to rutile phase transformation in the presence of 0.03 and 0.21 wt% potassium. Large amount of K (3 wt%) provides thermal stability of V/Ti/O catalyst and no transformation is found up to 600 A degrees C. Reduction of vanadia K-doped vanadia catalysts is moved to higher temperatures than for the catalyst without potassium. The catalyst having 0.21 wt% K possesses the highest activity in o-xylene oxidation. Furthermore, the K-doped monomeric vanadia species in this catalyst leads to a promoted adsorption or a prevented desorption of phthalide, resulting in a decreased selectivity towards phthalide and COx and a increased PA selecticity. [GRAPHICS] .