Innovative catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation in the gas phase - metallic short fibers and coated glass fabrics

The catalytic activity of metallic short fibres with chosen alloy components and texture was investigated in the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to yield propene, and of isopropanol to yield acetone. The short fibres were synthesised using a melt extraction process and the properties of the fibres were intensely characterised. A correlation between the structure and the catalytic activity of the material was established. Optical microscopic, DSC, XRD, REM and XRD methods were used to characterise the fibres. Selective results of the dependency of the temperature on the propane conversion are presented in this work. A yield of more than 35% propene is obtained at a propane conversion of 50%. The ODH of isopropanol to acetone occurred with attractive yields of over 80%. The results demonstrate the high innovative potential of the metal fibre materials. The use of coated glass fabrics as catalysts for the ODH and total oxidation of propane were also part of this investigation.