Process for oxidative dehydrogenation using a boria-alumina catalyst.

Abstract

The invention relates to a process of oxydehydrogenating an alkyl-substited aromatic hydrocarbon starting compound into the corresponding alkenyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon product, respectively, which process comprises a step of contacting the starting compound and an oxidant at dehydrogenating conditions, in the presence of a boria-alumina catalyst, characterized in that the boria-alumina catalyst has been prepared by a co¬precipitation method. The co-precipitation method comprises the steps of preparing a solution of aluminium salt in an organic medium, followed by adding to this solution a boron compound and then adding ammonia gas to the mixture obtained in previous step to form a precipitate and / or a gel. This process enables oxydehydrogenation of ethyl-benzene to styrene with high selectivity.