Fe-MOF Materials as Precursors for the Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Isobutane

We investigate the use of a series iron-based metal–organic frameworks as precursors for manufacturing isobutane dehydrogenation catalysts. Both as-prepared and spent catalysts were characterized by PXRD, XPS, PDF, ICP-OES, CHNS+O to determine physicochemical properties materials active phases responsible catalytic activity. In contrast previous literature, our results indicate that (i) formation metallic Fe under reaction conditions in secondary cracking coke formation; (ii) iron carbide only contributes (iii) stabilization Fe2+ species is paramount achieve stable selective this sense, promotion with potassium incorporation titanium improve performance. While well known selectivity iron-catalyzed reactions, unprecedented effect nanometric titanomaghemite phase, even reductive conditions, moderately highly catalyst several hours on stream remarkable resistance formation.