Ca-doped CrOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with improved dehydrogenation performance for the conversion of isobutane to isobutene

Abstract

The dehydrogenation of low-carbon alkane to obtain olefins is an effective way to meet the steadily increasing demand of these building blocks in chemical industry. In this study, Ca-doped CrOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were fabricated via a one-pot method by employing Cr(OH)3 as the precursor, and their catalytic performances were tested in the dehydrogenation of isobutane to isobutene (DITI) process. The prepared catalysts were intensively characterized by XRD, SEM, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, low-temperature N2 adsorption–desorption, etc. These characterization results indicated that the doping of Ca into the CrOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts could tune the acidity properties of the prepared catalysts and enhance the interaction between the active species and support. The Ca-doped CrOx/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, especially the Ca2-Cr/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with a Ca doping of 2 wt%, exhibited a superior catalytic performance in the DITI process in comparison with the undoped catalyst.