Comparative Study of the Dehydrogenation of Decalin on Pd/SiO₂, Pd/MCM-48, and Pd/SBA-15 Catalysts

The characteristics and catalytic properties of Pd/SiO₂, Pd/MCM-48, and Pd/SBA-15 catalysts during the dehydrogenation of decalin were investigated. This study has prepared a series of supported Pd catalysts and tested them in a flow reactor. Synthesized catalysts were studied by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, temperature programmed reduction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Catalysts supported on mesoporous silicas MCM-48 and SBA-15 exhibit higher activity than catalysts on amorphous SiO₂. The catalyst activities seemed to be primarily related to the particle size and dispersion of palladium. MCM-48 and SBA-15 make it possible to obtain smaller palladium particles that exhibit higher activity in the dehydrogenation reaction of decalin. Kinetic parameters for the dehydrogenation of decalin over the various Pd catalysts were obtained to determine the release of the hydrogen. The studied palladium catalysts supported on MCM-48 and SBA-15 can be recommended as potential catalysts for hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of aromatic compounds considered as liquid organic hydrogen carriers.