Selective propane dehydrogenation to propylene on novel bimetallic catalysts

Platinum catalysts (0.1–0.2% of Pt) supported on corundum and promoted by indium and tin were prepared, characterized by XPS, XRD, TEM and chemisorption and tested in propane dehydrogenation at 500–580°C with steam and hydrogen as diluents. The characteristics of samples based on corundum were compared with catalysts of similar composition supported on θ-alumina. The catalytic performance in steam was superior by far to that in hydrogen. Coking of corundum-supported catalysts decreased by a factor of 30–60 so their stability was much higher than with θ-supported catalyst. For the first time high dispersion and high activity of corundum-based dehydrogenation catalysts are reported.