Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane over a High Surface Area Boron Nitride Catalyst: Exceptional Selectivity for Olefins at High Conversion

Developing environment-friendly active and selective catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane for on-purpose propene synthesis is challenging despite tremendous industrial potential for this reaction. Herein, we report on catalytic activity of high surface area hexagonal boron nitride, toward oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. It shows remarkable selectivity for alkenes (similar to 70%) at very high conversion (of similar to 50%) of propane. Propene and ethene selectivities as high as 53 and 18%, respectively, were obtained at a conversion of 52%. The catalytic activity is retained continuously for 5 h. Regeneration in ammonia brings back the catalytic activity to its full potential. Oxidation of surface B-N bonds in oxygen leads to the diminishing catalytic activity after 5 h which, on heating in ammonia, reduced back to their native form, regaining the indigenous activity. Remarkably, the addition of ammonia in the reaction feed showed stable activity for more than 100 h.