Potassium loss processes involved in irreversible deactivation of the beta-ferrite component of the styrene catalyst were investigated by means of Species Resolved Thermal Alkali Desorption and work function measurements in the process temperature range. Two main mechanisms of the stabilization were developed depending on the dopant location. It was found that incorporation of Cr promoter into the structure of beta-ferrite slows down potassium diffusion from the bulk towards the surface, whereas the additive segregated at the basal planes (such as CeO(2)), favoring the cationic state of potassium, inhibits the probability of potassium atoms to leave the K(2)Fe(22)O(34) surface via work function increase. From the obtained results it may be concluded that K loss can be effectively extinguished via appropriate doping of the less stable beta-ferrite active phase of the iron-oxide catalyst. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.