PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE AND PROPYLENE FROM ETHANE, PROPANE, AND N-BUTANE MIXED WITH STEAM IN A MICROWAVE-IRRADIATED SILICON-CARBIDE LOADED REACTOR

We studied the production of ethylene (C-2(=)) and propylene (C-3(=)) by the decomposition of pure ethane, propane, and n-butane, mixed with steam, in a microwave-irradiated fixed bed reactor packed with silico n carbide. We found that ethylene production was maximized using ethan e as the feed, with per pass yields as high as 63% at an ethane conver sion level of 74%. With propane and n-butane feeds, more ethylene than propylene was produced, but the propylene amounts were significant. C ombined per pass yields of C-2(=) and C-3(=) were 56% at a butane conv ersion of 99%, and 50% at a propane conversion of 93%. This microwave process appears to be a viable way of producing ethylene and propylene .