Effect of the acidity of alumina over Pt, Pd, and Pt–Pd (1:1) based catalysts for 2-propanol dehydration reactions

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 105; pp. 688 - 694
• Main Authors: Valdez, R., Pawelec, B., Quintana, J.M., Olivas, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: 2-Propanol; Acidity; Applied sciences; Diisopropyl-ether; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Propene; Pt/Al2O3 catalyst; Propene; Acidity; Diisopropyl-ether; 2-Propanol; Pt/Al2O3 catalyst; Ether; Catalyst selectivity; Palladium; Pt/Al; Propanol; Dehydration; Supported catalyst; O; Platinum; catalyst; Catalyst activity; Alumina; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2012.10.047

[Display omitted] ► Catalysts of Pt, Pd and Pt–Pd were impregnated on alumina of different acidity. ► The catalytic activity was tested on the 2-propanol dehydration reaction. ► The Pt/Al2O3 basic showed 100% selectivity towards diisopropyl-ether at 523K. ► The Pt–Pd/Al2O3 weakly acidity showed 100% selectivity towards propene at 523K. ► The Pt and Pt–Pd catalysts showed great stability during the reaction for 5h. Aluminas with different acidity were used as supports for Pt- and Pd-based catalysts. The Pt catalysts showed no significant difference in catalytic activity due to the acidity of alumina, but did record an enormous difference in selectivity. The Pt/Al2O3 basic catalyst showed total selectivity to diisopropyl-ether. On the other hand, Pd catalysts recorded different catalytic activity due to the acidity of the supports; the Pd/Al2O3 weakly acid catalyst performed better than acid and basic supports in the Pd-based catalysts. Otherwise, the sample of Pt–Pd/Al2O3 weakly acid catalyst showed complete selectivity towards propene. A comparison of the catalytic activity between bimetallic catalysts and the Pt-based catalysts revealed that it is lower for Pt–Pd-based catalysts and occurs at a higher temperature.