Dehydrogenation and Dehydration of Isopropanol Catalyzed with Sol-Gel MgO-Al₂O₃ Oxide

Abstract

Magnesia-alumina mixed oxide as catalyst for isopropanol decomposition was synthesized via sol-gel technique. The textural properties, surface acidity and basicity of the solid were determined by the N₂-physisorption and TPD-CO₂ and TPD-NH₃ methods. Catalytic evaluation shows that both acetone and propene were produced through dehydrogenation and dehydration pathways. The total conversion and product selectivity were promoted or inhibited at different conditions such as reaction time, temperature and feed composition. When water was added into the inlet stream, acetone selectivity was profoundly enhanced due to formation of new active species like hydroxyl groups on the catalyst surface.