Ga2O3/La2O3-gamma Al2O3 catalysts for CO2-mediated oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene

A method for producing propylene (C3H8) via oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane, comprising:

• introducing a propane-containing feed gas stream into a reactor containing an alumina supported Ga2O3/La2O3 catalyst comprising Ga2O3 particles at least partially disposed on surfaces of a matrix comprising rough and irregular sized La2O3 and alumina particles;
• passing the propane-containing feed gas stream through the reactor in contact with the alumina supported Ga2O3/La2O3 catalyst at a temperature of 500 to 600° C. to convert at least a portion of the propane to propylene (C3H6) and produce a propylene-containing gas stream leaving the reactor;
• and
• separating the propylene from the propylene-containing gas stream;
• wherein the method has a propane conversion of up to 95% based on an initial weight of the propane in the propane-containing feed gas stream;
• and
• wherein the method has a propylene yield of up to 60% based on the propane conversion,
• wherein the reactor is a fixed-bed reactor in the form of a cylindrical reactor comprising:
• a top portion;
• a cylindrical body portion;
• a bottom portion;
• a housing having an open top and open bottom supportably maintained with the cylindrical body portion;
• wherein the alumina supported Ga2O3/La2O3 catalyst is supportably retained within the housing permitting fluid flow therethrough;
• at least one propeller agitator is disposed in the bottom portion of the reactor;
• wherein the bottom portion is cone shaped or pyramidal;
• and
• wherein a plurality of recirculation tubes fluidly connects the bottom portion of the cylindrical reactor with the cylindrical body portion of the cylindrical reactor.