Supported indium oxide as novel efficient catalysts for dehydrogenation of propane with carbon dioxide

In2O3–MOx binary mixed metal oxide catalysts (M: Al, Zn, Zr, Ti, Fe, Mg, Si, and Ce) prepared by a coprecipitation or sol–gel method have been tested for the dehydrogenation of propane to propylene in the presence of carbon dioxide. Several techniques including N2 adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction, H2-temperature-programmed reduction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to characterize the physicochemical properties of the as-synthesized materials. Catalytic tests showed that all In-containing samples were active in the CO2-promoted dehydrogenation of propane with good propylene selectivity. Among the In2O3–MOx catalysts tested, the In2O3–Al2O3 sample containing a 20 mol% indium content showed the highest dehydrogenation activity with superior long-term stability. The specific interaction between In2O3 and Al2O3 leading to a high component dispersion is suggested to play a key role in regulating the redox and structural properties of surface indium species, which makes the In2O3–Al2O3 composite highly active and stable for the reaction.

The dehydrogenation of propane over In2O3–MOx (M: Al, Zn, Zr, Ti, Fe, Mg, Si, and Ce) mixed metal oxide catalysts, which were prepared by a coprecipitation or sol–gel method, in the presence of CO2 was investigated. High activity and stability were achieved on the In2O3–Al2O3 catalyst with a 20 mol% indium content, giving a propylene yield of 27% without any observable trend of deactivation in 24 h.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (49 K)Download as PowerPoint slide