Isopentane Dehydrogenation with Chromia-Alumina Catalyst

Effects of Intraparticle Diffusion on Catalyst Fouling

Abstract

Dehydrogenation of isopentane over chromia-alumina catalyst of several sizes (42∼60mesh to 5mmφ×5mm) has been carried out. The catalyst. foulig by the deposited coke was observed in a fixed-bed reactor. The coke distribution in a catalyst pellet was found to be uniform. The diffusivity of the reactants within the catalyst pellet was measured and found to be a linear function of the coke content.
A kinetic model was proposed and kinetic parameters were estimated by computer simulation under the condition that intraparticle diffusion was negligible. Using this kinetic model and the function of diffusivity, the effect of intraparticle diffusion on conversion and the profile of the coke content in the reactor were experimentally described.