Propane Dehydrogenation over PtSn/Al2O3 Catalysts: Influence of Urea to Al(NO3)3·9H2O Ratio

Al2O3 supports were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and PtSn/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation method. The influence of the ratio of urea to Al(NO3)3·9H2O on the structure and catalytic performance for propane dehydrogenation was investigated. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, SEM, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD and Raman. The results show that the ratios of urea to Al(NO3)3·9H2O influence the morphology and phy-chemical properties of Al2O3 support, which influence the dispersion of PtSn active sites and the interaction of Pt and Sn on PtSn/Al2O3 catalysts. The PtSn/Al2O3-9 catalyst possesses the highest interaction of Pt and Sn, which result in high dispersion of active sites. The PtSn/Al2O3-9 catalyst shows high propane conversion and low deactivation rate among these catalysts.