Iron‑chromium mixed metal oxides catalyse the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane using carbon dioxide

The oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene using carbon dioxide is an attractive novel synthesis route to produce a key platform chemical. We investigated iron-chromia catalysts prepared by sol-gel. The mixed oxides showed improved specific surface area and a high concentration of acid and base sites and were found to be highly active catalysts. Although coking was observed over the catalysts, oxidative regeneration restored the majority of the initial activity over 5 consecutive cycles. The initial space time yield was amongst the most active Cr-based catalysts in the literature. • Iron‑chromium mixed metal oxides prepared by sol-gel form high surface area mixed metal oxides. • Fe Cr oxides catalyse propane dehydrogenation using CO 2 . • Carbon dioxide addition improves propene yield and catalyst stability. • Catalysts are amongst the most active Cr catalysts reported to date.