Stable and selective catalysts for propane dehydrogenation operating at thermodynamic limit

Ali Hussain Motagamwala; Rawan Almallahi; James Wortman; Valentina Omoze Igenegbai; Suljo Linic

doi:10.1126/science.abg7894

Stable and selective catalysts for propane dehydrogenation operating at thermodynamic limit

Science. 2021 Jul 9;373(6551):217-222. doi: 10.1126/science.abg7894.

Authors

Ali Hussain Motagamwala^{1

2}, Rawan Almallahi^{1

2}, James Wortman^{1

2}, Valentina Omoze Igenegbai^{1

2}, Suljo Linic^{3

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
² Catalysis Science and Technology Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. linic@umich.edu.

PMID: 34244414
DOI: 10.1126/science.abg7894

Abstract

Intentional ("on-purpose") propylene production through nonoxidative propane dehydrogenation (PDH) holds great promise for meeting the increasing global demand for propylene. For stable performance, traditional alumina-supported platinum-based catalysts require excess tin and feed dilution with hydrogen; however, this reduces per-pass propylene conversion and thus lowers catalyst productivity. We report that silica-supported platinum-tin (Pt₁Sn₁) nanoparticles (<2 nanometers in diameter) can operate as a PDH catalyst at thermodynamically limited conversion levels, with excellent stability and selectivity to propylene (>99%). Atomic mixing of Pt and Sn in the precursor is preserved upon reduction and during catalytic operation. The benign interaction of these nanoparticles with the silicon dioxide support does not lead to Pt-Sn segregation and formation of a tin oxide phase that can occur over traditional catalyst supports.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.