Intensified methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation over a low-Pt modified Ni/TiO2 catalyst under pressurized and high-throughput conditions

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) offer a promising route for safe and compact hydrogen storage, but efficient hydrogen release under intensified conditions remains challenging. Herein, methylcyclohexane (MCH) dehydrogenation was investigated over a Pt-modified 20 wt% Ni/TiO 2 catalyst under high weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) and elevated pressure. At atmospheric pressure and a WHSV of 5.7 h −1 , Pt modification markedly enhanced MCH dehydrogenation, increasing the conversion from 11.8% to 77.4%. Under pressurized conditions (0.8 MPa) and a higher WHSV of 11.4 h −1 , the conversion reached 97.7% with improved stability. Characterization results indicate that pressurization facilitates hydrocarbon desorption and preserves active-site accessibility, while atmospheric conditions promote intermediate accumulation, deep dehydrogenation and polymerization, leading to amorphous and graphitic coke formation. This work provides insights into pressure-regulated coke formation during MCH dehydrogenation and offer guidance for the design of stable LOHC dehydrogenation processes under pressure-variable conditions.