Synthesis and Catalytic Performance of Mesoporous γ-Al2O3 Catalyst for Isobutane Dehydrogenation

A thermal stability and ordered mesoporous gamma-Al2O3 was synthesized via the improved evaporation induced self-assembly strategy. As the carrier, a series mesoporous Cr2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts with various Cr content (1%-15% (w/w)) had been successfully prepared by impregnation method. The mesoporous gamma-Al2O3 and the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), H-2 temperature programmed reduction (H-2-TPR) and investigated for isobutane catalytic dehydrogenation. The results showed that low temperature process took control of isopropanol aluminum hydrolytic and condensation rate effectively. Mesoporous gamma-Al2O3 owns larger surface areas and pore volume and increased channel order. Under given condition (600 degrees C, 101.325 kPa, GHSV=1 000 h(-1)), 10%Cr2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst had the best performance, where the conversion of isobutane reached up to 63.1% and the selectivity of isobutene reached up to 85.5%. Compared to the conventional catalyst, the mesoporous Cr2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst possesses the advantages of larger specific surface area, highly dispersed active components, excellent catalytic property and very strong coking-resistance.