Chemical process and catalyst

Abstract

Alkanes are dehydrogenated to alkenes, for example n-butane to n-butenes by contact with a catalyst comprising a silicalite and a platinum group metal the catalyst being substantially free of alkali and alkaline earth metals. The selectivity of the product to butenes is improved by either presulphiding the catalyst or by passing a minor amount of a sulphur-containing compound with the alkane feed. The catalyst can be prepared by either forming the silicalite in the presence of the platinum group metal or alternatively contacting preformed silicalite with a solution of a platinum group metal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.