Dehydrogenation and Dehydration of Isopropanol Catalyzed with Sol-Gel MgO-Al2O3 Oxide

Abstract

Magnesia-alumina mixed oxide as catalyst for isopropanol decompn. was synthesized via sol-gel technique. The textural properties, surface acidity and basicity of the solid were detd. by the N2-physisorption and TPD-CO2 and TPD-NH3 methods. Catalytic evaluation shows that both acetone and propene were produced through dehydrogenation and dehydration pathways. The total conversion and product selectivity were promoted or inhibited under different conditions such as reaction time and temp. and feed compn. When water was added to the inlet stream, acetone selectivity was profoundly enhanced due to formation of new active species like hydroxyl groups on the catalyst surface.