Chromium alumina catalysts for paraffin dehydrogenation

A method for dehydrogenation of an alkane, the method comprising loading a reactor with a dehydrogenation catalyst produced by:

• providing a chromium(III) oxide-containing alumina support containing a plurality of transition aluminas derived from a mixture containing about 60 weight percent (wt. %) to about 99 wt. % of crystalline aluminium trihydroxide and about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of crystalline aluminium oxide-hydroxide or gelatinous aluminium hydroxide or both;
• contacting the chromium(III) oxide-containing alumina support with a water-soluble trivalent chromium oxide source to provide an impregnated chromium(III) oxide-containing alumina support;
• and
• drying and calcining the impregnated chromium(III) oxide-containing alumina support to produce the dehydrogenation catalyst containing about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of alumina, about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of trivalent chromium oxide, and about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. % of the alkali metal oxide;
• supplying a feed containing an alkane through the reactor at a temperature sufficient to dehydrogenate the alkane and produce an olefin.