Patent attributes
The invention relates to a catalyst composition suitable for the dehydrogenation of paraffins having 2-8 carbon atoms comprising zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, optionally further comprising oxides of cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), ytterbium (Yb), yttrium (Y), tungsten (W) and Zirconium (Zr) or mixtures thereof, wherein said catalyst composition is substantially free of chromium and platinum. The catalysts possess unique combinations of activity, selectivity, and stability. Methods for preparing improved dehydrogenation catalysts and a process for dehydrogenating paraffins having 2-8 carbon atoms, comprising contacting the mixed metal oxide catalyst with paraffins are also described. The catalyst may also be disposed on a porous support in an attrition-resistant form and used in a fluidized bed reactor.