Ethylbenzene to styrene over ZrO2-based mixed metal oxide catalysts with CO2 as soft oxidant

ZrO2-based mixed metal oxide catalysts for the industrially important dehydrogenation process of ethylbenzene to styrene monomer have been explored by our group for the past 20 years. These efforts were subjected to the activation of CO2 over mixed metal oxide catalysts and resulted in several promising benefits to the dehydrogenation processes, such as stabilized conversion and selectivity, suppressed coke formation and commercially-acceptable longevity. In this review, we summarize the most recent developments on ZrO2-based mixed metal oxide catalysts, including the further optimization of sal-gel process in the synthesis of catalysts, rationalizing acid-base properties by doping, co-operative properties between redox and acid-base active sites and additional promoters towards the effective improvement of the longevity of catalysts. (C) 2016, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.