New trimetallic catalysts supported on coprecipitated MgAl2O4 for n-paraffins selective dehydrogenation processes

Trimetallic PtSnIn and PtSnGa catalysts supported on coprecipitated MgAl2O4 display better behaviors in n-butane conversion, selectivity to butenes and deactivation due to coke formation, than bimetallic PtSn/MgAl2O4 catalysts, and much better than the mometallic catalyst. The addition of Sn and In to Pt produces mainly an important decrease of the metallic particle sizes and geometric modifications of the metallic phase, these facts being the cause for the excellent performance. For PtSnGa/MgAl2O4, not only geometric but also electronic effects on the metallic phase would be present.