Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane over titanium pyrophosphate catalysts in the presence of carbon dioxide

The effect of carbon dioxide on the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane over two titanium pyrophosphate catalysts with low and high specific surface areas was investigated using a conventional fixed-bed down-flow reactor in the temperature range of 450-600 degrees C. The addition of CO2 in the feed slightly decreased n-butane conversion but strongly increased the selectivity to dehydrogenation products for both catalysts. Replacing air with carbon dioxide as unique oxidant, an important decrease of the catalytic activity was observed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.