Innovative Catalysts for Oxidative Dehydrogenation in the Gas Phase – Metallic Short Fibers and Coated Glass Fabrics†

The catalytic activity of metallic short fibers with chosen alloy components and textures was investigated in the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to yield propene, and of isopropanol to yield acetone. The short fibers were synthesized using a melt extraction process and the properties of the fibers were intensely characterized. A correlation between the structure and the catalytic activity of the material was established. Optical microscopic, DSC, XRD, REM and EDX methods were used to characterize the fibers. 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 fiber materials. The use of coated glass fabrics as catalysts for the ODH and total oxidation of propane were also part of this investigation.