Role of hydrogen in catalytic dehydrogenation: Film diffusion controlled deactivation

The function of hydrogen used as carrier gas in catalytic dehydrogenation is to increase the selectivity and stability of catalysts. It slows down catalyst deactivation by either inhibiting deposition of potential coke precursors or facilitating their desorption by rehydrogenation. This function, in gas-solid catalytic dehydrogenation appears to be interphase mass transfer controlled by increased hydrogen linear flow velocities decreasing the extent of deactivation. Besides, deactivation appears to progress through two regimes, an initial short term followed by a long term deactivation.