The effects of Ce addition on the Pt-Sn/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts for propane dehydrogenation to propylene have been investigated by reaction tests and some physicochemical characterizations like XRD, BET, NH3-TPD, H-2-TPD, H-2-TPR, H-2-chemisorption, CO-FTIR and TPO. The results show that the Ce addition could greatly improve the catalytic performance and catalytic stability of the Pt-Sn/gamma-Al2O3, which is reported as the optimal catalyst for propane dehydrogenation to propylene. We could keep > 38% of propane conversion, > 98% propylene selectivity and > 37% propylene yield over 50 h in the reaction of propane dehydrogenation to propylene over Pt-Sn/Ce-Al2O3 catalysts at 576 degrees C, 3800 h(-1) and H-2/C3H8/Ar = 1/1/5. The presence of Ce in the Pt-Sn/Ce-Al2O3 catalysts could not only stabilize the active states of Pt, Sn and support, but could also suppress the coke accumulation on the catalyst during reaction, and further improve the catalytic performance of Pt-Sn/gamma-Al2O3. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All fights reserved.