Preparation, characterization, and catalytic performance of PtZn-Sn/SBA-15 catalyst for propane dehydrogenation

The mono-, dual-, and tri-metallic Pt catalysts for the catalytic dehydrogenation of propane to propylene were prepared by impregnation method using SBA-15 as the support. The fresh catalysts were characterized by some physicochemical characterizations such as BET, H2-TPR, H2-chemical adsorption, and TEM. The amount of deposited carbon on used catalysts was analyzed by O2-pulse technology. The results show that the highest dispersion (about 29%) and the smallest particles size (about 3 nm) of Pt are obtained over the tri-metallic Pt catalyst. Over the tri-metallic catalyst, the loading components can enter the pore of the SBA-15. The tri-metallic Pt catalyst shows the excellent catalytic dehydrogenation performance. The main reasons are the very weak acidity of support, the strong interactions between Pt, promoter, and the support, and the electronic modifications of the Zn to Pt, which can reduce the coke reaction, promote the stability, and selectivity of PtZn-Sn/SBA-15 catalyst in dehydrogenation of propane.