Active Species of Sulfated Metal Oxide Catalyst for Propane Dehydrogenation

Abstract

This study focuses on clarifying the active species over a sulfated transition metal oxide (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) catalyst for propane dehydrogenation. The unsulfated catalyst showed a high conversion for the dehydrogenation of propane, with significantly low selectivity to the desired product of propylene. On the other hand, the sulfated catalyst displayed a high selectivity to propylene, though the conversion was slightly decreased. The sulfation treatment was especially effective for the Co and Fe catalysts. The sulfate species (SO₄²⁻) were reduced to the active species of the sulfide ion (S²⁻) in the reaction atmosphere, which increased a selectivity to propylene.