Methods and systems for extending the life of a dehydrogenation catalyst are described herein. For example, one embodiment includes providing an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream to a reaction chamber, contacting the feed stream with a dehydrogenation catalyst to form a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon, the dehydrogenation catalyst including iron oxide and an alkali metal catalysis promoter and supplying a catalyst life extender to at least one reaction chamber, the reaction chamber loaded with the dehydrogenation catalyst, wherein the catalyst life extender includes a potassium salt of a carboxylic acid.