Catalytic Conversion of Butane into Isobutene over .GAMMA.-Alumina-supported Gallium(III) Oxides.

The catalytic conversion of butane into isobutene was investigated using various kinds of metal oxides supported on γ-alumina. Gallium(III) oxide catalyst alone converted butane into isobutene with low selectivity. The activity of gallium(III) oxide catalyst was affected by reduction with hydrogen and by doping with various kinds of metal oxides, but the selectivity was little affected. The XRD patterns and XPS spectra indicated that doping effect was caused by the variation in the oxidation state of gallium(III) oxide due to the formation of a solid solution. Gallium(III)-copper(II) oxide supported on γ-alumina was found to exhibit the highest isobutene yield, as high as 2.3%.