Stable and selective perovskite catalyst for dehydrogenation of propane working with redox mechanism

Dehydrogenation of propane with steam was investigated using novel LaCoxMn1−xO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) perovskite-type oxide (ABO3) catalysts. Optimization of the Co substitution ratio (x = 0.2) enabled high propylene yield and selectivity. The perovskite structure of LaCo0.2Mn0.8O3 remained stable during dehydrogenation, as confirmed by XRD measurements. Dehydrogenation of propane over LaCo0.2Mn0.8O3 perovskite catalyst proceeded via reduction–oxidation (redox) of the perovskite oxide; oxidative dehydrogenation of propane consumed lattice oxygen in the perovskite and the consumed lattice oxygen was regenerated by H2O. Surface analyses conducted using XPS and XANES showed that a part of Mn4+ and Co3+ in LaCo0.2Mn0.8O3 was reduced to Mn3+ and Co2+ during the reaction. The LaCo0.2Mn0.8O3 catalyst showed higher selectivity at the same propane conversion compared with the selectivity to propylene over an industrial CrOx/γ-Al2O3 catalyst.