Potassium ferrites formation in promoted hematite catalysts for dehydrogenation. Thermal and structural analyses

K-promoted hematite catalysts for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation were studied by thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and high-temperature XRD. The formation of potassium ferrite (K2Fe2O4), considered to be a catalytically active phase, was observed during calcination of the Ce-promoted catalysts. A linear correlation of the catalytic activity and the temperature of potassium ferrites formation was found.