Literature indicates that application of zirconia in a supported dehyd
rogenation catalyst is viable. Textural and structural properties of c
ommercial pre-shaped zirconia supports from various suppliers were cha
racterized using electron microscopy, element analysis, nitrogen physi
sorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry and X-ray diffraction. Most zi
rconias are sufficiently pure (>97 %) and thermostable to be applied i
n supported catalysts. Specific surface areas as large as 10 m(2) g(-1
) are stable at temperatures of about 850 degrees C. Specific surface
areas up to about 30 m(2) g(-1) can be established by a thermal treatm
ent in air at temperatures up to the operating temperatures of the deh
ydrogenation process. Steam treatment affects the texture differently
from treatment in dry air: sintering proceeds more rapidly in the pres
ence of steam. The preshaped supports show a porosity (about 50%) whic
h is higher than that reported for zirconia powders with the same pore
-size distribution (5%). Th is is advantageous, both in the catalyst p
reparation step and in the catalytic reaction. However, the pre-shaped
supports exhibit some microporosity.