Effect of hydrogen and supported metal on selectivity and on-stream stability of ZrO2-based catalysts in non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation

We elucidated the effects of H2 and the kind (Cu or Ru) of supported metal on product selectivity and on-stream stability of MZrOx-based catalysts (M = La or Y) in the non-oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene. Coke formation was hindered in hydrogen presence. However, the selectivity to C1-C2 hydrocarbons increased over Ru/MZrOx but did not change over Cu/LaZrOx. This difference was related to the low activity of Cu for cracking and hydrogenolysis reactions. Using feed with 40 vol% C3H8 and 30 vol% H2 in N2, Cu/LaZrOx showed stable conversion (20%) and propene selectivity (88%) within 4.5 h on stream at 550 °C.