Oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane over LaBaSm oxide catalyst: Influence of the addition of CO2 in the feed

Abstract Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of isobutane over LaBaSm oxide catalyst in the temperature range 450–600°C, and the influence of the addition of CO 2 into the feed were investigated. It was found that LaBaSm oxide is an active and stable catalyst for ODH of isobutane. Upon reaction conditions the specific surface area decreases and a new phase, La 2 O(CO 3 ) 2 , is formed, which causes an increase in the surface specific conversion. The selectivity to isobutene as well as isobutane conversion can be improved by adding CO 2 into the feed. These effects may be explained as due to the combined effects of improvement of the active phase formation and the competition between molecular O 2 and CO 2 adsorption on the sites which are responsible for total oxidation.