Kinetic modeling of side reactions in propane dehydrogenation over Pt - Sn/γ - Al2O3 catalyst

The kinetics of side reactions in the dehydrogenation of propane over a supported platinum catalyst modified by tin, were investigated. Catalytic dehydrogenation over a commercial Pt-Sn/γ-Al2O3 was carried out in a laboratory-scale plug-flow reactor at 580–620 °C under atmospheric pressure. Several kinetic models derived from different reaction mechanisms were tested using experimental data obtained under a range of reaction conditions. It was found that the kinetics of the main dehydrogenation reaction was best described in terms of a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism, where the adsorption of propane was the rate controlling step. Simple power low rate expressions were used to express the kinetics of side reactions.

► A kinetic study for propane dehydrogenation over Pt-Sn/γ-Al2O3 was reported.
► A Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism was proposed with propane adsorption as the RDS.
► Power-law expressions were used for side reactions for formation of minor products.