Dehydrogenation of cyclohexane over molybdenum/mixed oxide catalysts

Catalytic dehydrogenation of cyclohexane was selected to investigate the catalytic activity and selectivity of prepared molybdenum catalysts (20-wt% MoO3) supported on alumina, magnesium–aluminum and chromium–aluminum mixed oxide materials. The prepared catalysts were characterized by; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern, scanning electron microscopy and BET surface area measurements. The catalytic reaction was performed in a pulse micro-catalytic reactor operated under atmospheric pressure and at reaction temperature ranged from 250 to 550 °C. Mo/magnesium–aluminum oxide and Mo/chromium–aluminum oxide catalysts show better activity (96.0% and 91.0%) and selectivity (96.0% and 95.0%, respectively) toward benzene formation at 400 °C, compared with Mo/alumina one.