Enhanced performance of supported Pd-Pt bimetallic catalysts prepared by modified electroless deposition for butane dehydrogenation

The alumina supported Pd-Pt based bimetallic catalysts were prepared by modified electroless deposition and evaluated for butane dehydrogenation. The bimetallic Pd-Pt catalysts exhibited superior performance compared to that of monometallic catalysts. The superior performance may be attributed to strong synergistic interaction between metals, stronger metal-support interaction and lower acidity. The higher activity of alloyed Pd-Pt metal resulted in higher conversion for bimetallic catalysts. The lower acidity resulted in higher butene selectivity and stability for bimetallic catalysts by minimizing cracking and secondary reactions. The co-deposited catalyst with more uniform distribution of Pd and Pt metals showed better performance than bimetallic catalysts prepared by sequential deposition. Co-deposited Pd-Pt/Al catalyst showed the highest butane conversion (50 %), butene yield (42 %) and stability. The reported yield is much higher than many reported values for Pt or Pd based catalysts. The co-deposited Pd-Pt/Al catalyst also exhibited better dehydrogenation performance in comparison to corresponding co-impregnated bimetallic catalyst.

Automated summary

The bimetallic Pd-Pt catalysts prepared by co-deposition showed superior performance with higher activity and stability compared to those prepared by sequential deposition. The co-deposited Pd-Pt/Al catalyst exhibited the highest butane conversion, butene yield, and stability in butane dehydrogenation studies.