Development of Dehydrogenation Catalysts and Processes

Abstract

Catalytic dehydrogenation plays an important role in production of light (C3–C4 carbon range), detergent range (C10–C13 carbon range) olefins and for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation to styrene. During the World War II, catalytic dehydrogenation of butane over a chromia–alumina catalyst was practiced for the production of butenes that were dimerized to octenes and hydrogenated to octanes to yield high-octane aviation fuels. The earlier catalyst development employed chromia–alumina catalyst and more recent catalytic developments use platinum or modified platinum catalysts. Dehydrogenation is a highly endothermic process and as such is an equilibrium limited reaction. Thus important aspects in dehydrogenation entail approaching equilibrium or near-equilibrium conversion while minimizing side reactions and coke formation.