High-entropy intermetallics serve an ultrastable single-atom Pt for propane dehydrogenation

Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) has been a promising propylene production process that can compensate for the increasing global demand for propylene. However, Pt-based catalysts with high stability at ≥600°C have barely been reported because the catalysts typically result in short catalyst life owing to side reactions and coke formation. Herein, we report a new class of heterogeneous catalysts using high-entropy intermetallics (HEIs). Pt–Pt ensembles, which cause side reactions, are entirely diluted by the component inert metals in PtGe-type HEI; thereby, unfavorable side reactions are drastically inhibited. The resultant HEI: (PtCoCu)(GeGeSn)/Ca–SiO2 exhibited an outstandingly high catalytic stability, even at 600°C (kd−1 = τ = 4146 h = 173 d), and almost no deactivation of the catalyst was observed two months for the first time.

The Economic Evaluation of Methanol and Propylene Production from Natural Gas at Petrochemical Industries in Iran

This investigation scrutinizes the economic features and potential of propylene and methanol production from natural gas in Iran because greenhouse gas emissions released by natural gas-based production processes are lower than coal-based ones. Considering the advantage of Iran’s access to natural gas, this study evaluates and compares the economic value of different plans to complete the value chain of propylene production from natural gas and methanol in the form of four units based on three price scenarios, namely, optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic, using the COMFAR III software. Iran has been ranked as the second most prosperous country globally based on its natural gas reserves. Methanol and propylene production processes via natural gas will lower the release of greenhouse gas. This, increasing the investment and accelerating the development of methanol and propylene production units driven by natural gas will lead the world to a low emission future compared to coal-based plants. The economic evaluation and sensitivity analysis results revealed that the conversion of methanol to propylene is more attractive for investment than the sale of crude methanol. The development of methanol to propylene units is more economical than constructing a new gas to propylene unit because of the lower investment costs.

Propylene Synthesis: Recent Advances in the Use of Pt-Based Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation Reaction

Propylene is one of the most important feedstocks in the chemical industry, as it is used in the production of widely diffused materials such as polypropylene. Conventionally, propylene is obtained by cracking petroleum-derived naphtha and is a by-product of ethylene production. To ensure adequate propylene production, an alternative is needed, and propane dehydrogenation is considered the most interesting process. In literature, the catalysts that have shown the best performance in the dehydrogenation reaction are Cr-based and Pt-based. Chromium has the non-negligible disadvantage of toxicity; on the other hand, platinum shows several advantages, such as a higher reaction rate and stability. This review article summarizes the latest published results on the use of platinum-based catalysts for the propane dehydrogenation reaction. The manuscript is based on relevant articles from the past three years and mainly focuses on how both promoters and supports may affect the catalytic activity. The published results clearly show the crucial importance of the choice of the support, as not only the use of promoters but also the use of supports with tuned acid/base properties and particular shape can suppress the formation of coke and prevent the deep dehydrogenation of propylene.

Propane Dehydrogenation Technology; A Viable Alternative to Meet Nigeria's Growing Propylene Demand

Global propylene demand increases year on year, conventional sources of propylene production like steam crackers, refinery fluid catalytic cracker (FCC) are unable to meet global demand for propylene and this has necessitated the use of "On-Purpose" sources for propylene production like propane dehydrogenation (PDH). The PDH and its impact in the propylene mix of the Nigerian petrochemical industry is what this work is centered on. The need for PDH technology in Nigeria stems from the reality that, Nigeria currently has no refinery with operational fluid catalytic cracker nor sufficient steam crackers to meet an estimated propylene demand gap of about 140 KTA (2016/2017) despite propylene production from a major player in Nigeria (at present, demand gap is expected to be more). This work involves analysis of Nigeria's petrochemical import and export, petrochemical market size, exposition to the PDH trendand technology focusing on UOP Oleflex technology (chemistry and operation/process flow) and how this technology can help close the current propylene demand gap in Nigeria especially as Nigeria enters its decade of gas. Petrochemical companies in Asia have been able to use this PDH technology to manufacture propylene thereby significantly closing the propylene demand gap, constructing the most PDH plants in the last 5 years in the process. This also can be replicated in Nigeria and aid in closing propylene demand gap, and with surplus, begin to export propylene to the West African market to generate revenue, improving GDP.

Stable and selective catalysts for propane dehydrogenation operating at thermodynamic limit

Intentional (“on-purpose”) propylene production through nonoxidative propane dehydrogenation (PDH) holds great promise for meeting the increasing global demand for propylene. For stable performance, traditional alumina-supported platinum-based catalysts require excess tin and feed dilution with hydrogen; however, this reduces per-pass propylene conversion and thus lowers catalyst productivity. We report that silica-supported platinum-tin (Pt1Sn1) nanoparticles (<2 nanometers in diameter) can operate as a PDH catalyst at thermodynamically limited conversion levels, with excellent stability and selectivity to propylene (>99%). Atomic mixing of Pt and Sn in the precursor is preserved upon reduction and during catalytic operation. The benign interaction of these nanoparticles with the silicon dioxide support does not lead to Pt-Sn segregation and formation of a tin oxide phase that can occur over traditional catalyst supports.