Farnaz Tahriri Zangeneh - Catalyst Research Group, Petrochemical Research and Technology Company, National Petrochemical Company, Tehran, Iran
Elham Karimi - Catalyst Research Group, Petrochemical Research and Technology Company, National Petrochemical Company, Tehran, Iran
Saeed Sahebdelfar - Catalyst Research Group, Petrochemical Research and Technology Company, National Petrochemical Company, Tehran, Iran

Multimetallic Pt-Sn-K/Al2O3 catalyst samples were prepared by sequential impregnation of alumina supports. The θ-Al2O3 support was prepared by heat treatment of γ-Al2O3 sample. The supports were characterized by BET and XRD techniques and a high degree of transformation to θ-Al2O3 was observed. The catalyst samples were tested in a fixed-bed quartz reactor for propane dehydrogenation activity and propylene selectivity under representative industrial conditions. The influence of reaction temperature on catalytic performance was also checked within a range of 570-630 ºC. θ-alumina showed superior properties over γ-alumina as the support, that is; similar catalytic performance at lower loadings of Pt, and lower coke formation tendency were observed on θ-alumina supported catalysts. These were attributed to the less porous nature and lower acidity of θ-alumina compared to γ-alumina.

Propane dehydrogenation, platinum-based catalysts, alumina support, catalyst performance