Kinetics of Hydrogen and Toluene Production from Methylcyclohexane in the Presence of a PtSn/Al2O3 Catalyst.

A Pt(1.5%)Sn(0.25%)/Al2O3 catalyst synthesized by the sequential impregnation of γ-alumina with aqueous solutions of hydroplatinic acid and tin chloride has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The kinetic laws governing methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation to toluene and hydrogen in a tubular flow reactor in the isothermal mode at atmospheric pressure have been studied, while varying the reactant concentrations, contact time, and temperature. An empirical mathematical model of kinetics, which includes three adsorption forms of a bifunctional active site, has been developed. The model adequately describes the test data for the forward and reverse reaction routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]