Propane Conversion Research Articles

Propane dehydrogenation over silicalite‐1 supported PtMn catalyst with low Pt loading

Pt‐based catalysts have been widely studied for propane dehydrogenation (PDH) because of their high activity and environmental sustainability. However, as a precious metal, the development of catalysts with high stability and low Pt content is of great significance. In this study, a series of silicalite‐1‐supported PtMn (0.1PtxMn/S‐1) catalysts with low Pt loading amount (0.1 wt%) was prepared. The effects of different Mn loadings on the physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in the PDH reaction were studied. The addition of an appropriate amount of Mn regulated the dispersion of Pt particles and increased the number of active sites of the catalyst, enhancing the catalytic performance of PDH even at a low Pt loading. The initial propane conversion was 46.1% over 0.1Pt0.3Mn/S‐1 catalyst, and the deactivation rate constant was the lowest of 0.010 h‐1. This may be because an appropriate Mn loading was beneficial for enhancing the interaction between the metal and the support, forming MnOx attached to the S‐1 surface, while the surface of MnOx stabilized the PtMn alloy, thereby improving the catalytic performance for PDH.

Revealing Activity of Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Ag2O‐MOx (M = Cu, Fe, Zn) Catalysts via DFT Calculations for Direct Propylene Epoxidation

AbstractDirect propylene epoxidation (DPE) with molecular oxygen is an effective process of conversion of propylene into propylene oxide (PO), which is an essential intermediate compound for many petrochemical products such as propylene glycol, propylene carbonate, polyurethane foams, etc. The modification of Ag‐based catalysts which prevents overoxidation and improves catalytic activity for PO production is studied by simulating Ag2O and mixed metal oxides of Ag2O‐CuO (Ag2CuO2), Ag2O‐ZnO (Ag2ZnO2) and Ag2O‐Fe2O3 (Ag2Fe2O4) catalysts using density functional theory (DFT). Instantaneous adsorption of propylene was observed over Ag2ZnO2 and Ag2CuO2. DPE with oxygen via the Mars‐Van Krevelen mechanism (MVKM) was investigated considering propylene and oxygen as alternatively adsorbed species and molecular species. DPE with molecular oxygen and adsorbed propylene required 1.7 times more activation energy than DPE with molecular propylene and adsorbed oxygen. DPE with oxygen via the Lagmuir‐Hinshelwood mechanism (LHM) required 3–4 times more activation energy than MVKM for Ag2O and Ag2CuO2, whereas it is comparable for Ag2ZnO2. This showed that both mechanisms are followed for DPE over Ag2ZnO2. Ag2ZnO2 was found to be the optimum catalyst for DPE with instantaneous adsorption of propylene and instantaneous desorption of PO.

Improved activity and coking-resistance of Fe2O3/ZrO2 catalysts by hydrothermal synthesis in propane dehydrogenation with CO2: Experimental, DFT calculations, and deactivation modeling

In this work, two ZrO2-supported Fe2O3 catalysts were synthesized through the impregnation (Fe2O3/t-ZrO2) and the hydrothermal (Fe2O3/c-ZrO2) methods. The hydrothermal preparation improved the catalyst activity and propylene yield; propane conversion: 45.8 % vs. 31.2 %, propylene yield: 31.1 % vs. 23.2 %. This higher activity was attributed to the high specific surface area and thereby higher Fe dispersion that led to more formation of active Fe3 + sites. According to results, the t-ZrO2 surfaces were known to be more favorable for coke reaction compared to c-ZrO2. Adsorption energy of propane and propylene onto the most stable surfaces of ZrO2 was measured as a criterion for side reactions and coke deposits by DFT calculations. The results showed that propane and propylene are more adsorbed onto t-ZrO2 than onto c-ZrO2, which indicates more cracking of propane and propylene onto t-ZrO2. Finally, the experimental data were successfully fitted with the Deactivation Model with Residual Activity (DMRA). It was found that the Fe2O3/c-ZrO2 catalyst has a higher resistance against the deactivation by coke deposits compared to the Fe2O3/t-ZrO2 catalyst; activation energy of deactivation function: 83.64 vs. 70.09 kJ/mole.

Mo–V–Al–K–O catalyst for low-temperature oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Compared with propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technology, oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane is an effective way to break through the thermodynamic constraints, which has changed the endothermic reaction into exothermic. Meanwhile, coking in PDH was significantly reduced by the presence of an oxidant in ODH of propane. Therefore, ODH of propane has attracted wide interest and has been studied in recent years. However, the contradiction between the conversion of propane and the selectivity of propene was the intrinsic problem of ODH of propane that required further study. In this work, a novel aluminum/potassium-doped mixed metal oxide catalyst Mo1V0.5Al0.02K0.03Ox was synthesized using a simple co-impregnation method, whose selectivity for propene (83.2 %) and conversion of propane (12.7 %) at 300 °C were the best among all other alkali metal/alkaline-earth metal-doped catalysts. The further discussion illustrated that doping potassium and alumina could synergistically adjust the density of acid sites on the catalyst, establishing an equilibrium between high propane conversion and the ideal propene selectivity. After modification, the density of Brønsted acid decreased, leading to an enhancement in the selectivity of propene. Simultaneously, the addition of steam in the feed gas promotes propene to oxygenates and improves the conversion of propane under the condition of constant contact time.

Boron-containing MFI zeolite: Microstructure control and its performance of propane oxidative dehydrogenation

Boron-containing zeolites can catalyze the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP) to produce propylene. Enhancing the quantity of active boron-oxygen species and regulating the positioning of these species within the zeolite are the main challenges in developing efficient boron-based catalysts. In this study, a boron-containing zeolite catalyst with exposed (010) crystal facets, referred to as the MFI-type boron-containing zeolite (BMFI), was synthesized using a urea-assisted hydrothermal method. The research indicates that the addition of an appropriate amount of urea can regulate the morphology of the zeolite, with its short-axis flake-like structure enhancing the accessibility of active boron sites and anchoring a higher content of active boron-oxygen species through hydrogen bonding, which significantly improves the ODHP activity and olefin selectivity of the catalyst. The propane conversion rate reached 20 ​%, with a propylene selectivity of 62.3 ​% and a total olefin selectivity of 81.3 ​% at 520 ​°C. Compared to the ellipsoidal boron-containing catalyst formed without urea, the flake-like BMFI catalyst exhibited nearly a 20-fold increase in the reaction rate of propane. The flake-like BMFI possesses a greater number of framework tetrahedrally coordinated boron (B[4]) and defective boron species (B[3]a and B[3]b), and active boron structural evolution occurred during the reaction process, with B[3]a and B[3]b being the active sites for the catalytic reaction. This study provides a reference for the structural design and regulation of boron-based catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of light alkanes.

Forced Dynamic Operation of Propylene Selective Oxidation to Acrolein on Bismuth-Molybdate Structured Catalysts

Forced dynamic operation (FDO) of selective oxidation of propylene to acrolein is evaluated on a structured alumina foam coated with a mixed metal oxide catalyst (bismuth molybdate-based). Reactor experiments examine feed composition modulation as a strategy to increase the yield of acrolein. At lower temperatures, separating the oxidant (O2) and reductant (C3H6) enhances propylene conversion and acrolein selectivity. Variation in the reaction-regeneration switching amplitude and frequency gives a 40% higher cycle-averaged acrolein yield compared to steady-state operation (SSO) for the same overall feed composition. The results suggest that FDO maintains a higher concentration of selective oxygen species during the propylene feed, while pre-oxidation of the catalyst maximizes the amount of selective oxygen species, leading to increased acrolein yield at the beginning of the reaction cycle. Experiments at lower temperature for both commercial promoted and in-house, unpromoted catalysts reveal both catalysts are most active and selective at their highest oxidation states.

Unraveling the Role of CuO in CuxO/TiO2 Photocatalyst for the Direct Propylene Epoxidation With O2 in a Fluidized Bed Reactor.

Propylene epoxidation in mild conditions using molecular O2 is a highly desirable reaction that represents a significant challenge in the field of heterogeneous catalysis for the synthesis of oxygenated organic compounds of industrial interest. In this work, CuxO/TiO2 composites with different mominal CuO loadings (in the range of 0.5-8.4 wt %) were used to promote the photocatalytic epoxidation of propylene with molecular oxygen under UV-A irradiation in a fluidized bed system. The photocatalysts were prepared by a straightforward method consisting of thermal annealing of physical mixtures between copper acetate and sol-gel-derived TiO2. Different characterization techniques were employed to assess the influence of CuxO content on the physical-chemical properties of the CuxO/TiO2 composites. The best combination in terms of propylene conversion and selectivity towards propylene oxide (18.1 % and 72 %, respectively) was obtained with CuxO/TiO2 at 1.1 wt % CuO, as shown by photocatalytic tests. The high propylene oxide selectivity is due to the ability of CuO in the CuxO/TiO2 composite to transform molecular O2 into hydrogen peroxide that, in turn, is able to directly oxidize propylene to propylene oxide. By using a UV-A light intensity of 297.2 mW cm-2, the propylene conversion and the epoxide yield were 31.5 and 22.2 %, respectively, significantly higher than that reported in the literature. Moreover, the energy consumption of the reaction system employed in this paper was significantly lower than that of photocatalytic systems studied in the literature dealing with selective propylene epoxidation.

One-Pot Synthesis of (CrMnFeCoNi)Ox High-Entropy Oxides for Efficient Catalytic Oxidation of Propane: A Promising Substitute for Noble Metal Catalysts.

The efficient catalytic oxidation of propane, as a short-chain alkane, remains challenging in environmental catalysis. High-entropy oxides (HEOs) exhibit advantages in abundant and well-dispersed elemental composition, exceptional thermal stability, and enriched lattice defects. Herein, (CrMnFeCoNi)Ox HEO catalysts are successfully synthesized by using a continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis (CHFS) route, without any subsequent calcination processes. This route yields HEOs with fine particle sizes, high specific surface areas, and abundant near-surface lattice oxygen compared to the traditional coprecipitation method. Notably, the propane conversion over the CHFS-made (CrMnFeCoNi)Ox HEO reaches 90% at 255 °C, with an apparent activation energy of 53.2 kJ/mol, mainly attributed to its enriched lattice oxygen and enhanced oxygen mobility that prevent the accumulation of acetates and the consequent occupation of active sites. In comparison to commercial Pt/Al2O3 and Pd/Al2O3, (CrMnFeCoNi)Ox HEO demonstrates exceptional activity and can maintain long-term stability under high-temperature (upon 650 °C) and moisture-rich conditions (at 2-10 vol %). These attributes highlight its potential as a promising substitute for noble metal catalysts in industrial applications.

Homogeneously Co/Ce co-doped amorphous MnOx microspheres with abundant oxygen vacancy for catalytic combustion of propane

Developing simple and effective strategies to construct rich oxygen vacancies is of great importance for enhancing the catalytic efficiency of heterogeneous catalysts. This study prepared Ce and Co-doped manganese oxide catalysts with microsphere morphology by a simple and facile solvent-thermal reaction strategy, which were further applied for the catalytic combustion of chemically stable light alkane such as propane. The results of systematic characterizations verified that the incorporation of Ce and Co into MnOx generates more structural defects with abundant oxygen vacancies. The Mn3(Co2Ce1)1 catalyst, which was obtained by Co, Ce co-doping, possessed the highest content of oxygen vacancies as well as strengthened physic-chemical features such as larger specific surface, more surface-active species, better redox capacity, enhanced oxygen mobility and acidity. As a result, this sample displayed superior low-temperature catalytic activity, achieving 90 % conversion of propane at 263 °C under high space velocity (120,000 mL·gcat-1·h−1), which was 87 °C lower than that of pure manganese oxide. Moreover, in-situ DRIFTS was also employed to reveal the possible pathways of propane degradation over the Mn3(Co2Ce1)1 catalyst. Meanwhile, clear improvements reflected in thermal stability and resistance to water were also realized by modifying Co and Ce, showing great potential for practical industrial applications.

(Ga, Al)-H-MFI Catalysts with Highly Dispersed Ga Sites and Proximal Protonic Sites Enable Methane-Propane Coaromatization.

Methane-propane coaromatization (MPCA) upgrades two abundant and inexpensive light alkanes into value-added aromatic products. While Ga-loaded MFI zeolites represent by far the most promising catalysts for MPCA reaction, they often contain a sizable portion of Ga species at the external surface of zeolites, which are remote from the Brønsted acid sites (BAS) within MFI pores and thus inefficient for MPCA. Here, we show that Ga can be introduced into MFI pores at fairly high loadings via a simple cocrystallization approach, yielding catalysts possessing well-dispersed Ga sites predominantly residing inside the pores and framework. Adjacency between Ga and BAS within the constraints of MFI channels makes these (Ga, Al)-H-MFI catalysts more active toward methane and propane activation and more selective toward aromatics compared to the Ga/MFI counterparts prepared by impregnation that inevitably leaves a large fraction of Ga at the external surface (i.e., without confinement and few adjacent BAS). Further, the effects of the Si/Al ratio on MPCA performance have been investigated for (Ga, Al)-H-MFI catalysts. Due to the multifold roles of BAS in the overall reaction sequence, an increased BAS concentration generally results in higher propane conversion and productivity of aromatics together with lower net methane conversion and severer coking.

Co‐precipitation of Sn and Al Precursors to Create Additional Acid Sites of Pt/Sn‐Al2O3 catalysts for propane dehydrogenation

Alumina‐supported PtSn catalysts have been industrialized as the major catalysts for propane dehydrogenation, where Sn serves as an essential promoter. Herein, we synthesized a variety of Sn‐doped alumina supports by regulating the precipitation order of Sn and Al precursors as follows: Sn precursor precipitated before Al, co‐precipitated with Al, precipitated immediately after Al, or precipitates after two hours of Al. The effect of Sn promoter on the surface acidic properties of alumina and, ultimately, on propane dehydrogenation was further investigated. The Sn species introduced by co‐precipitation in alumina created additional surface strong acid sites, attributed to more Sn4+ species on the surface which are able to remain stable during the subsequent treatment. Consequently, the co‐precipitated Sn species in the corresponding catalyst donate more electrons to Pt and reduce the metal particle size. As a result, the catalyst with Pt supported on the co‐precipitated support (Sn+Al) exhibits superior initial propane conversion (43.2%) and stability (kd = 0.035 h‐1). This study provides new insight into the interaction between the two key components, tin promoter and alumina support, of Pt/Sn‐Al2O3 catalysts.

Comparative Study of PtM (M=Cu, Zn, Ga, Mn, Fe, In, Ce) Bimetals on Zincosilicate for Propane Dehydrogenation Reaction.

Silicoaluminate zeolites have relatively strong Brönsted (B) acid properties that can easily lead to deep cracking reactions, making them less favourable as carriers for propane dehydrogenation. Here, we utilise zincosilicate zeolite with less B-acid produced by the introduction of the heteroatom Zn into the framework as a carrier, followed by simultaneous ion exchange (IE) of M monometallic or PtM bimetallic (M=Cu, Zn and Ga, etc.). The optimized PtZn/Zn-4 exhibits a superior propane dehydrogenation performance over PtCu/Zn-4 and PtGa/Zn-4, which can achieve a propane conversion of about 30 % in a pure propane atmosphere at 550 °C and can be operated for at least 168 h without significant deactivation. Characterization techniques such as spherical aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy, in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy with different gas adsorptions are used to investigate these PtM@zeolite catalysts in order to deepen the understanding of acid site identification, promoter effect and catalysis.

Theoretical investigation on propane dehydrogenation over extraframework Ga hydride species trapped at Al-pairs in MFI zeolite

Ga/ZSM-5 is widely used to catalyze propane dehydrogenation (PDH). For the harsh operation conditions, the detailed active species, and the plausible reaction pathways that are responsible for the observed superior PDH performance remain unresolved for Ga/ZSM-5. Reduced extraframework Ga hydride species trapped at zeolite framework Al-pairs, including b[GaH]2+, [Ga]+-BAS, [GaH2]+-BAS, etc. are an important kind of Ga species known as active species for PDH. In this work, the PDH pathways these over these Ga species were investigated theoretically at temperatures and pressures relevant to experiments. We showed that dynamically generated undercoordinated b[GaH]2+ would exhibit significantly higher catalytic activity at PDH conditions as compared with other Ga hydride species. The most plausible PDH pathway over b[GaH]2+ is the carbenium pathway. The Ga species and BAS act in concert in promoting the H2 elimination and β-H transfer, and in turning PDH efficient. Ga hydride species may also form as intermediates along the PDH pathways as active sites for subsequent activation and conversion of propane, suggesting the evolution of Ga hydride species trapped by Al-pairs in Ga/ZSM-5 at operation conditions. The findings are expected to pave the way for better understanding of the experimentally observed operation condition dependent PDH performance of Ga/ZSM-5.

One-Pot Synthesis of Mixed-Phase MoVTeNbOx Catalysts for Selective Oxidation of Propane to Acrylic Acid.

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis assisted by sodium citrate and citric acid is developed to fabricate mixed-phased MoVTeNbOx catalysts with different phase compositions for selective oxidation of propane to acrylic acid. Structures of various catalysts are comprehensively characterized. Interfacial interactions occur among the M1 and M2 phases of mixed-phase MoVTeNbOx catalysts to exert synergistic effects on the selective production of acrylic acid. Various mixed-phase MoVTeNbOx catalysts exhibit the same type of active site on the M1-phase component, with a significantly enhanced ability to adsorb and activate propane. The propane conversion increases linearly with the density of surface site for propane adsorption, while the propene selectivity increases linearly with the density of surface site for propene adsorption. Among the synthesized catalysts, a MoVTeNbOx catalyst composed of 35.3 wt % M1 phase, 19.2 wt % M2 phase, and 45.7 wt % amorphous phase exhibits the largest density of active site and consequently the best catalytic performance with 38.9% propane conversion and 71.2% acrylic acid selectivity at 380 °C.

Modulation of the cobalt species state on zincosilicate to maximize propane dehydrogenation to propylene

Dispersing metals from nanoparticles into clusters or single atoms often exhibits unique properties such as the inhibition of structure-sensitive side reactions. Here, we reported the use of ion exchange (IE) methods and direct hydrogen reduction to achieve high dispersion of Co species on zincosilicate. The obtained 2Co/Zn-4-IE catalyst achieved an initial propane conversion of 41.4% at a temperature of 550 °C in a 25% propane and 75% nitrogen atmosphere for propane dehydrogenation. Visualization of the presence of Co species within specific rings (alpha-α, beta-β and delta-δ) was obtained by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. A series of Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the anchoring of Co by specific hydroxyl groups in zincosilicate and the specific coordination environment of Co and its presence in the rings essentially as a single site. The framework Zn for the modulation of the microenvironment and the presence of Co species as Lewis acid active sites (Co-O4) was also supported by density functional theory calculations.

Facile and Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of Ga2O3/MFI Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation.

A GaOx-based catalyst is recognized as a promising catalyst for dehydrogenation of light alkanes. Conventionally, impregnation and calcination are necessary processes for the loading of GaOx. However, the incomplete impregnation of gallium salt solution would generate wastewater, and the calcination for the dissociation of gallium salt would release harmful gases, such as SOx, NOx, and HCl. Meanwhile, the high temperature results in an excessive energy cost and undesired GaOx particle aggregation. Here, we report a facile and environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of GaOx-based catalysts. The gallium salt solution was replaced directly with liquid gallium (LG). Through a simple physical mixing method at room temperature, uniform GaOx nanoparticles with diameters of around 3.5 nm were loaded onto the surface of silicalite-1 (S-1). With the optimal GaOx/MFI catalyst, the propane conversion and propylene selectivity reached 22.9 and 90.1%, respectively, in the propane dehydrogenation reaction. The work offers a clean and economical strategy utilizing liquid metal (LM) as an impregnation solution for the preparation of GaOx-based catalysts.

Enhanced microwave-catalytic performance for CO2 oxidative propane dehydrogenation by acidified and Bi-doped ZnO-based microwave catalysts

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane by carbon dioxide (CO2-ODHP) has great potential in producing propylene. Resource utilization of CO2 will be the dominant trend in the future to mitigate environmental problems and cope with the growth in energy demand. However, simultaneously achieving high propane conversion, high propylene selectivity, and high CO2 conversion at low temperatures remains challenging. Herein, we report a novel efficient microwave catalyst (1.0-Zn4Bi1/Silicalite-1+SiC) by doping Bi on ZnO/Silicalite-1 and then acid treatment. The (1.0)-Zn4Bi1/Silicalite-1+SiC microwave catalyst exhibited 92 % C3H8 conversion, 84 % C3H6 selectivity, and 45 % CO2 conversion under microwave mode, significantly better than under the thermocatalysis (without microwave: 27 % C3H8 conversion, 92 % C3H6 selectivity, and 14 % CO2 conversion). The CO2 capture capacity was improved by adding Bi to ZnO/Silicalite-1. In addition, acid modification increased the propane and CO2 conversion by 1.9 and 1.3 times, respectively. Notably, acid treatment enriched the pore structure of the catalysts, altered surface acidity and alkalinity, and promoted C3H8 and CO2 activation and C3H6 desorption. In particular, the acid treatment enriches the state of the presence of Zn species in the catalyst. Microwave irradiation reduces the apparent activation energy of the catalytic system and accelerates the removal of coke from the catalyst surface. Microwave catalysis can activate CO2 and propane at lower temperatures than thermocatalysis.

CrMn‐based catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with CO2

AbstractThe paper investigates the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with carbon dioxide (ODH‐CO2) as a promising route for propylene production, an avenue yet to be commercially developed. Utilizing the incipient wetness catalyst preparation method, CrMn catalysts were synthesized on three supports (γ‐Al2O3, ZSM‐5, and SBA‐15). Comprehensive characterization through Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM)‐energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H2‐TPR) was conducted to comprehend catalyst behaviour. Among the six catalysts tested, Cr/SBA‐15 was exhibited as the best performer, achieving propane and CO2 conversions of 36.2% and 14.1%, respectively, with a propylene selectivity of 33.4%. Over a 50‐h time on stream (TOS), it demonstrated gradual declines in conversions while retaining 75% of initial values. The incorporation of manganese as a promoter effectively mitigated coke formation, albeit with slight reductions in propane conversion and propylene selectivity.

Stable and homogeneous intermetallic alloys by atomic gas-migration for propane dehydrogenation

Intermetallic nanoparticles (NPs) possess significant potentials for catalytic applications, yet their production presents challenges as achieving the disorder-to-order transition during the atom ordering process involves overcoming a kinetic energy barrier. Here, we demonstrate a robust approach utilizing atomic gas-migration for the in-situ synthesis of stable and homogeneous intermetallic alloys for propane dehydrogenation (PDH). This approach relies on the physical mixture of two separately supported metal species in one reactor. The synthesized platinum-zinc intermetallic catalysts demonstrate exceptional stability for 1300 h in continuous propane dehydrogenation under industrially relevant industrial conditions, with extending 95% propylene selectivity and propane conversions approaching thermodynamic equilibrium values at 550–600 oC. In situ characterizations and density functional theory/molecular dynamics simulation reveal Zn atoms adsorb on the particle surface and then diffuse inward, aiding in the formation of ultrasmall and highly ordered intermetallic alloys. This in-situ gas-migration strategy is applicable to a wide range of intermetallic systems.

Support Screening to Shape Propane Dehydrogenation SnPt-Based Catalysts.

Propane dehydrogenation reaction (PDH) is an extremely attractive way to produce propylene; however, the catalysts often lead to byproduct formation and suffer from deactivation. This research focuses on the development of efficient Pt/Sn-based shaped catalysts by utilizing Mg-modified mesoporous silica, sepiolite (natural SiMgO x mesoporous clay), and sepiolite/bentonite/alumina as supports with the aim of achieving superior stability and selectivity for industrial propylene production by PDH. The catalysts were prepared by sequential impregnation of the supports with the corresponding solutions of tin chloride and platinum chloride, by obtaining a nominal loading of 0.7 wt % of Sn and 0.5 wt % of Pt. A range of analytical techniques were used to characterize the catalysts, including X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption isotherms, Hg intrusion porosimetry, thermogravimetric analyses, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The basicity of the catalysts was assessed using carbon dioxide temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD). The results confirm that the support material plays a critical role in catalyst performance; in particular, the presence of weak basic sites, due to magnesium addition, improved selectivity to propylene and reduced coke formation. Catalytic pellets of Sn-Pt supported on macroporous sepiolite or sepiolite and bentonite-modified mesoporous alumina performed comparably with propane conversion very close to thermodynamic equilibrium and selectivity to propylene above 95%. The latter support led to improved stability and was regenerated at milder temperatures, making it suitable for industrial applications.