Dehydrogenation of Propane to Propylene Over Pt-Sn/Al2O3 Catalysts: The influence of operating conditions on product selectivity

The extent of side reactions in propane dehydrogenation over Pt-Sn/Al2O3 catalyst was studied. Catalytic test runs were carried out in a fixed-bed quartz reactor under different operating conditions. The results showed that the extent of side reactions strongly depends on the operating conditions. The product distribution implied that single C-C bond rupture in propane is the predominant route for break-down of propane to the lower hydrocarbons. A beneficial effect of coke formation on propylene selectivity was observed at the expense of propane conversion, which can be attributed to the dilution effect of carbonaceous deposits on platinum sites.