Advances in zeolite-supported metal catalysts for propane dehydrogenation

Abstract

Propylene is one of the building blocks in modern industry and the feedstock for polypropylene, acrylonitrile, and other important chemicals. Propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is one of the most promising on-purpose technologies to produce propylene, and thus has attracted widespread attention from both the academic and industrial communities. In recent years, zeolite-supported metal catalysts have exhibited excellent activity and superhigh stability in PDH reactions, which even exceed that of industrial catalysts, suggesting their great application prospects. In this review, we present a comprehensive summary of the latest research progress in the synthesis of state-of-the-art zeolite-supported metal catalysts, including monometal catalysts, bimetal catalysts, and single-site catalysts, and their outstanding catalytic activity in PDH reactions. Also, their advanced characterization techniques, catalytic mechanisms, and structure–function relationships are introduced simultaneously. Finally, some current limitations and future perspectives in the field of zeolite-supported metal catalysts for PDH processes are proposed. It is expected that this review will provide references and give insights into the future design of highly efficient zeolite-supported metal catalysts for PDH applications.