(296e) Ethane Dehydrogenation over Metal Loaded Two-Dimensional Zeolite Catalysts

Two-dimensional (2D) zeolites have been widely used as catalysts or catalyst supports for catalytic reactions. Dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane or propane, etc. have been one class of reactions that require zeolite supported metal catalysts. Studies of stable catalysts for non-oxidative dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons have been challenged by coke deposition from side reactions and thermal sintering of active species. Herein, we report a catalyst mechanism that overcome both constraints to enable highly stable, active and selective non-oxidative ethane dehydrogenation. The catalyst is made of platinum (Pt) species habituated on the 2D multilamellar titanium silicalite-1 (M-TS-1) zeolite nanosheet support. The ultra-thin M-TS-1 nanosheets bear characteristics of high external surface area, high terminal silanol/titanol groups and weak acid sites. The first two characteristics enhance molecular transport and Pt dispersion in the catalyst support. The third characteristic prohibits side-reactions to avoid coking and create strong metal-support interaction. The M-TS-1 nanosheet supported Pt catalyst exhibited durable catalytic activity and high ethylene selectivity in the non-oxidative ethane dehydrogenation reactions.