The applicability of a commercial Pt-Sn/Al

2

O

3

isobutane dehydrogenation catalyst in dehydrogenation of propane was studied. Catalyst performance tests were carried out in a fixed-bed quartz reactor under different operating conditions. Generally

as the factors improving propane conversion decrease the propylene selectivity

the optimal operating condition to maximize propylene yield is expected. The optimal condition was obtained by the experimental design method. The investigated parameters were temperature

hydrogen/hydrocarbon (H

2

/HC) ratio and space velocity

being changed in three levels. Constrains such as the susceptibility of the catalyst components to sintering or phase transformation were also taken into account. Activity

selectivity and stability of the catalyst were considered as the measured response factors

while the space-time-yield (STY) was considered as the variable to be optimized due to its commercial interest. A STY of 16 mol·kg

-1

·h

-1

was achieved under the optimal conditions of T 620℃

H

2

/HC 0.6 and

weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) 2.2 h

-1

. Single carbon-carbon bond rupture was f

ound to be the main route for the formation of lower hydrocarbon byproducts.