Ca-Doped CrOX/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts with Improved Dehydrogenation Performance for the Conversion of Isobutane to Isobutene.

The dehydrogenation of low-carbon alkane to obtain olefins is an effective way to meet the steadily increasing demand of these building blocks in chemical industry. In this study, Ca-doped CrO_x/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were fabricated via a one-pot method by employing Cr(OH)₃ as the precursor, and their catalytic performances were tested in the dehydrogenation of isobutane to isobutene (DITI) process. The prepared catalysts were intensively characterized by XRD, SEM, NH₃-TPD, H₂-TPR, low-temperature N₂ adsorption–desorption, etc. These characterization results indicated that the doping of Ca into the CrO_x/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts could tune the acidity properties of the prepared catalysts and enhance the interaction between the active species and support. The Ca-doped CrO_x/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, especially the Ca2-Cr/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst with a Ca doping of 2 wt%, exhibited a superior catalytic performance in the DITI process in comparison with the undoped catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]