A Mössbauer spectroscopic study on the action of Ce in the catalyst for dehydrogenation of etylbenzene to styrene

Two series of Fe-K catalysts for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene were prepared with different amounts and different compounds of the additional element Ce. Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to determine the Fe compound in the catalyst and to investigate the effect of Ce. The catalytic properties of the catalysts have also been measured. The results show that the element Ce in the catalyst is favorable to form the predecessor of the catalytic active phase, the compound KFe ₁₁O ₁₇ and that the optimal percentage of CeO ₂ is 8%~15% in the catalyst which is favorable to the formation of KFe ₁₁O ₁₇ and to get better catalytic properties.