Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO2 over V2O5/Al2O3–ZrO2 catalyst

V-containing catalysts supported on Al2O3, modified with varying amounts of ZrO2, were prepared by impregnation method. Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO2 was run over these catalysts in a fixed-bed downflow stainless steel reactor. Compared with pure Al2O3 support, a small amount of ZrO2 in the support led to a significant increase in catalytic activity. Partial reduction of vanadium oxides and carbon deposition were the main reasons for the decreased catalytic activity.

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► Alumina support with zirconium in V-containing catalysts was modified as VAZ.
► VAZ catalysts lead to a significant increase of the catalytic activity in EDSC.
► V4AZ10 with 10 wt.% ZrO2 has the highest catalytic activity.
► Partial reduction of V oxidation from high valence to low valence has happened.
► Coke formation reduces the number of active sites available on the catalyst surface.