Screening of catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with carbon dioxide

The influence of the type and concentration of transition and alkali metal oxides, type of the catalyst support as well as pretreatment method on cata lytic activity and stability of catalysts in the dehydrogenation of ethylbe nzene in the presence of carbon dioxide was determined. Active carbon-suppo rted iron oxide promoted by alkali metal oxide was found to show the highes t performance in the reaction. An increase in the catalyst mass was observe d during time-on-stream Additionally the specific surface area of the catal yst decreased. Temperature programmed oxidation showed the presence of carb on deposits which could only be gasified above 700 degreesC. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.