Isopropyl alcohol dehydration over chrominophosphate catalysts - I. A kinetic study

The dehydration of isopropyl alcohol, IPA, over the chrominophosphate catalysts was studied by a continuous flow micro-reactor in the temperature range of 423-573 K. The reaction is very specific with greater than 99% conversions to propylene and water. The reaction kinetics is first order with respect to the partial pressure of IPA. The reaction mechanism can be described by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and the corresponding rate determining step can be justified by the surface reaction of adsorbed IPA on the active sites of the catalyst surface.