Effect of Promoters on the Catalytic Activity of Alumina-Supported Gallium Oxide in Propane Dehydrogenation

Metal oxide catalysts capable of competing with commercial platinum and chromium catalysts for non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation (PDH) are of increasing research and practical interest. In this study, the catalytic activity of bulk gallium oxide promoted by La, Y, V, Fe, Co, Ni, W, Mo, Cu, Ce, Mn, In, and Sn has been screened in PDH resulting in the selection of La, Y, Mo, Cu, Ce, and Ni as the most promising additives. The subsequent screening of the catalytic performance of alumina-supported gallium oxide promoted by Y, Mo, Cu, Ce, and Ni has indicated Mo as the most preferred dopant. The catalysts have been characterized using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. PDH reaction catalyzed by Mo-Ga/Al 2 O 3 at 600°C and tested in a fixed-bed flow-type reactor at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 7500 mL h –1 g cat –1 (propane/N 2 = 1/10) provides ca. 32% propane conversion with the propylene selectivity of 96%.