Features of the Catalytic Cracking of Propane with a Step-Wise Change PrxYb2−xZr2O7

In this paper, the features of catalytic cracking of propane with a step-wise change in the composition of the catalyst from Pr2Zr2O7 to Yb2Zr2O7 were considered. For the research, samples of catalysts Pr2Zr2O7, (Pr0.75Yb0.25)2Zr2O7, (Pr0.5Yb0.5)2Zr2O7, (Pr0.25Yb0.75)2Zr2O7 and Yb2Zr2O7 were synthesized and analyzed. Analysis of the results from catalytic experiments showed that for the catalyst (Pr0.25Yb0.75)2Zr2O7, at a temperature of 700 °C, the conversion of propane reaches values of 100%, but for Yb2Zr2O7, this indicator decreases to 84%. The selectivity for ethylene is consistently reduced from 85% to 28% in several catalysts (Pr0.75Yb0.25)2Zr2O7 > Pr2Zr2O7 > (Pr0.5Yb0.5)2Zr2O7 >(Pr0.25Yb0.75)2Zr2O7 > Yb2Zr2O7. An increase in the number of surface adsorption centers leads to a predominant rupture of the C–C bond in the propane molecule with the formation of ethylene. When ytterbium ions are introduced into the catalyst, the amount of ethylene in the reaction products decreases, but the selectivity for propylene increases in the series Pr2Zr2O7 < (Pr0.75Yb0.25)2Zr2O7 < (Pr0.5Yb0.5)2Zr2O7 < Yb2Zr2O7 < (Pr0.25Yb0.75)2Zr2O7, which is associated with a decrease in the binding energy of carbon atoms in propane with the catalytic center during adsorption. © 2023 by the authors.