Carbon deposition during propane dehydrogenation in a fuel cell

Carbon deposition in a high temperature proton-conducting fuel cell for selective propane dehydrogenation to propylene with co-generation of electrical power was investigated. Comparison of carbon deposition was made for catalytic propane dehydrogenation under an open circuit condition and electro-catalytic conversion of propane to propylene on the anode catalyst of synthesized chromium(III) oxide during fuel cell operation conditions with current flow. Carbon deposition under the fuel cell operating conditions was much less than that under the open circuit conditions. Chromium(III) oxide catalyst modified by potassium showed a better resistance to carbon formation under the open circuit conditions but was similar to the unmodified catalyst under current flow conditions.