The dehydrogenation of cyclohexane on an AP-64 industrial platinum catalyst subjected to plasma chemical treatments

The influence of glow discharge plasma in oxygen and argon and high-frequency discharge plasma in hydrogen on the activity of the AP-64 (Pt/γ-Al2O3) catalyst in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane was studied. The catalytic experiments were performed in a flow unit and under static conditions in a vacuum. Under flow conditions, catalyst treatment with plasmas in O2 and Ar decreased the yield of benzene by ∼50% but strengthened temperature hysteresis because of the formation of active carbon on the surface of the catalyst. Under static conditions, argon plasma and high-frequency discharge H2 plasma multiply increased the rate of the reaction because of an increase in the number of active centers, whereas an oxygen plasma decreased the rate of the reaction by two times because of an increase in activation energy. The determination of the order of the reaction led us to suggest that the stage scheme of the reaction did not change after plasma chemical catalyst treatments. © 2009 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.