Oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane over Co-MCM-41 catalysts

Cobalt-containing mesoporous silicates with MCM-41-like structure, with Si/Co≥49, are active and selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of isobutane. The formation of dehydrogenation products is analysed in terms of the nature of the cobalt species, tetrahedral Co(II), and heterogeneously initiated gas-phase reactions inside the mesopores.