The influence of alumina used as a support on the catalytic properties of Pt/Sn/Al2O3 systems in the dehydrogenation of isobutane

In this research different types of Al2O3 were used as supports to prepare catalysts for dehydrogenation of isobutane to isobutene. These supports were Al2O3 from Merck, Axen and gamma Al2O3 synthesized from Al(OH)3. Sn/Pt/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by sequential impregnation, at first Pt and then Sn was deposited. Characterization of catalysts was performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thermal analysis (TG/DTG) techniques. Elemental analysis of the catalysts was also carried out by wet chemical analysis using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique. Isobutane dehydrogenation was studied in a reactor under atmospheric pressure at 848 K. The conversion, selectivity and yield of the prepared catalysts were calculated.