Preparation of γ-Al₂O₃ via Hydrothermal Synthesis Using ρ-Al₂O₃ as Raw Material for Propane Dehydrogenation

Abstract

γ-Al₂O₃ was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using ρ-Al₂O₃ and urea as raw materials. In this work, the effects of the molar ratio of CO(NH₂)₂/Al and reaction temperature were investigated, and a Pt–Sn–K/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst was prepared. The ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide (AACH), γ-Al₂O₃, and Pt–Sn–K/γ-Al₂O₃ were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption, thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis, and NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption techniques. The reactivity of Pt–Sn–K/γ-Al₂O₃ for propane dehydrogenation was tested in a micro-fixed-bed reactor. The results show that γ-Al₂O₃ with a specific surface area of 358.1 m²/g and pore volume of 0.96 cm³/g was obtained when the molar ratio of CO(NH₂)₂/Al was 3:1 and the reaction temperature was 140 °C. The alumina obtained by calcination of AACH has a higher specific surface area and larger pore volume than the industrial pseudo-boehmite does. The catalyst prepared from AACH as precursor showed high selectivity and conversion, which can reach 96.1% and 37.6%, respectively, for propane dehydrogenation.

Keywords

Ammonium aluminum carbonate hydroxide / γ-Al₂O₃ / Catalyst / Propane dehydrogenation

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