Catalytic paraffin dehydrogenation for the production of olefins has been in commercial use since the late 1930s. During World War II, catalytic dehydrogenation of butanes over a chromia-alumina catalyst was practiced for the production of butenes which were then dimerized to octenes and hydrogenated to octanes to yield high-octane aviation fuel (1). More recently, platinum or modified platinum catalysts are used for selective conversion of paraffins to olefins. Important aspects in dehydrogenation entail attaining equilibrium or near-equilibrium conversions while minimizing side reactions and code formation.
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