Industrial development of long chain paraffin (n-C100–C130) dehydrogenation catalysts and the deactivation characterization

•A new type of long chain paraffin dehydrogenation catalysts was industrially developed.•Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts showed higher dehydrogenation activity.•Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts performed longer life time.•Detailed characterization of the industrially deactivated dehydrogenation catalysts.

Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts for the dehydrogenation of long chain paraffins (n-C100–C130) were successfully developed and applied in the industry. The catalysts were tested on both the industrial side fixed bed reactor and the industrial PACOL dehydrogenation plant. The industrially deactivated Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts were characterized by TG–DTA, elemental analysis, UV Raman spectroscopy, TPO, SEM, XRD, BET, MIP and CO-chemisorption. The industrial 72-day-run dada indicated that Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts performed excellent dehydrogenation conversion of 11.6% and high mono-olefin selectivity of 94.1%. The daily output of alkylbenzene over Pt–Sn–K–Mg/Al2O3 catalysts was as high as 333.6 ton/day. The deactivated catalysts were deposited by the amorphous and graphitized coke, of which the weight percentage was 3.78% and the H/C mole ratio was 1.19. The coke covered parts of the Pt and support surface, while the pore and crystalline structure of the catalysts were not destroyed.

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