Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene in the Presence of CO2 Over Iron-Chrome Binary Oxide Catalytic System

Abstract

A series of iron-chrome binary oxide with different ratios were prepared by co-precipitation method and calcination at 750 ºC. The oxides were characterized by means of FTIR, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and tested in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene in presence of carbon dioxide. The results showed that the main oxide phases forming the binary oxides catalysts were a-Fe₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃. Exceptionally, the binary oxides with equal Fe and Cr molar ratio showed modified structural characteristics as compared with the corresponding pure oxides, a-Fe₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃. The catalytic tests for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with CO₂ showed that catalysts with high and low Fe content enhanced the formation of cracking products, whereas those with equal Fe/Cr ratios increased the styrene formation.