Coupling dehydrogenation of isobutane to produce isobutene in carbon dioxide over NiO/γ-AlO catalyst

The dehydrogenation of isobutane to produce isobutene coupled with reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction in the presence of carbon dioxide was investigated over a NiO/γ-AlO catalyst. The results illustrated that the coupling dehydrogenation of isobutane in carbon dioxide over NiO/γ-AlO catalyst is effective, and the NiO/AlO catalyst was modified with deposited carbon by impregnation of alumina with an aqueous solution of Ni(HNCH CHNH) (NO) . Carbon modification can decrease the total acidity of the NiO/γ-AlO catalyst and enhance the dispersion of NiO active phase. Furthermore, carbon has low acidity and anti-coking performance, so the carbon modification is effective in suppressing the coke formation and side reactions occurrence. Therefore, the catalyst stability and the isobutene selectivity are improved significantly by the carbon modification. © 2010 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.