Selective dehydrogenation catalysts

A method for preparing improved catalysts suitable for the selective dehydrogenation of dehydrogenatable organic compounds, which method comprises:

• (a) contacting a composition comprising a platinum group metal component and at least about 0.50 weight percent of a halide component on an alumina support material with an alkaline solution of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate salt, the mount of solution being in excess of the amount absorbed by the composition, to form a treated composition containing sodium metal removed from the aqueous solution;
• (b) contacting the treated composition from step (a) with water to remove at least a major portion of the alkaline solution absorbed by the composition to obtain a water washed composition;
• (c) contacting the water washed composition from step (b) with a solution of sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate salt to from a twice-treated composition containing sodium metal removed from the solution;
• and
• (d) drying the twice-treated composition to form the catalyst comprising a platinum group metal component, a residual amount of a halide component, and from about 0.78 to about 2.0 weight percent of a sodium metal component on an alumina support material.

A catalyst suitable for the selective dehydrogenation of organic compounds formed by the steps comprising:

• (a) contacting a composition comprising a platinum group metal component and at least about 0.20 weight percent of a halide component on an alumina support material with an aqueous alkaline solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate, the amount of solution being in excess of the amount absorbed by the composition;
• (b) partitioning the composition from remaining solution to form a treated composition containing sodium metal removed from the aqueous solution and a filtrate containing solubilized halide removed from the composition;
• and
• (c) drying the treated composition to form the catalyst comprising a platinum group metal component, a residual amount of a halide component, and at least about 0.78 weight percent of a sodium metal component on an alumina support material.

A catalyst suitable for the selective dehydrogenation of dehydrogenatable organic compounds, which catalyst is formed by a process comprising:

• (a) contacting a composition comprising a platinum group metal component and at least about 0.20 weight, percent of a halide component on an alumina support material with an alkaline solution of a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate, the mount of solution being in excess of the amount absorbed by the composition;
• (b) partitioning the composition from remaining solution to recover a once-treated composition containing sodium metal removed from the aqueous solution and a filtrate containing solubilized halide removed from the composition;
• (c) contacting the once-treated composition from step (b) with water and recovering a water washed composition;
• (d) contacting the water-washed composition from step (c) with a solution of containing a sodium metal salt, the amount of solution being in excess of the mount absorbed by the composition;
• (e) partitioning the composition from remaining solution to recover a twice-treated composition containing sodium metal removed from the aqueous solution and a filtrate containing solubilized halide removed from the composition;
• and
• (f) drying the twice-treated composition to form the catalyst comprising a platinum group metal component,a residual amount of a halide component, and a sodium metal component on an alumina support material, and wherein the catalyst contains from about 0.78 to about 1.05 weight percent sodium metal based on the weight of the catalyst.