What is "dehydrogenation"

Dehydrogenation \De*hy`dro*gen*a"tion\, n. (Chem.) The act or process of freeing from hydrogen; also, the condition resulting from the removal of hydrogen.

n. (context chemistry English) Any reaction or process in which hydrogen is removed from a substance, especially the production of unsaturated organic compounds from saturated ones

Dehydrogenation is a chemical reaction that involves the removal of hydrogen from a molecule. It is the reverse process of hydrogenation. Dehydrogenation reactions are conducted both on industrial and laboratory scales. Dehydrogenation converts saturated fats to unsaturated fats. Enzymes that catalyze dehydrogenation are called dehydrogenases. Dehydrogenation processes are used extensively to produce styrene in the fine chemicals, oleochemicals, petrochemicals, and detergents industries.