Role of carbon dioxide in the dehydrogenation of ethane over gallium-loaded catalysts

The role of CO2 in the dehydrogenation of ethane over Ga2O3-loaded catalysts was examined. Ga2O3/TiO2 catalyst was found to be the most effective for the dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene in the presence of CO2 at 923 K. The activity of the Ga2O3/TiO2 catalyst in the presence Of CO2 increased with increases in the partial pressure of CO2. To maintain high catalytic activity, cofeeding of CO2 and steam was effective in the case of the Ga2O3/TiO2 catalyst. Over the Ga2O3/TiO2 catalyst, the presence of CO2 markedly promoted the dehydrogenation of ethane as compared with the absence of CO2. Using a pulsed reaction technique, the use of CO2 in the dehydrogenation of ethane was found to reduce carbon deposition over the catalyst and to assist in the rapid desorption of the product (ethene) from the catalyst's surface. (C) 2001 Academic Press.