The effects of Cl-induced alloying in Pt-Sn/Al2O3 catalysts on butane/H2 reactions

• Published in: Catalysis letters 2001-06, Vol.74 (1-2), p.9-15
• Main Authors: ANSTICE, Philip J. C, BECKER, Susanne M, ROCHESTER, Colin H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloying effects; Aluminum oxide; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic reactions; Chemistry; Coking; Dehydrogenation; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Hydrogenolysis; Isomerization; Oxidation; Reduction; Regeneration; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry
• ISSN: 1011-372X; 1572-879X
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1016610031785

The effects of oxidation/reduction regeneration treatments, with and without 1,2-dichloropropane present as a chlorinating agent, on the structure of Pt(3%)–Sn(4.5%)/Al2O3 catalysts have been correlated with selectivities for butane/H2 reactions. Particles of Pt0 fin Cl-free catalysts were partly covered by Sn0, but retained exposed ensembles of Pt atoms which were active for isomerisation, hydrogenolysis and dehydrogenation reactions, the latter becoming dominant at high reaction temperatures. Coking reduced Pt ensemble size and, hence, also favoured high selectivities for dehydrogenation as hydrogenolysis and isomerisation sites became poisoned. In contrast, the addition of 1,2-dichloropropane in an oxychlorination step before reduction promoted 1 : 1 Pt0–Sn0 alloy formation after reduction, the proportion of the total Pt in alloy being enhanced by increasing 1,2-dichloropropane concentration and oxychlorination temperature. The alloy surfaces were inactive for isomerisation and hydrogenolysis reactions, giving dehydrogenation as the sole catalytic reaction.