The oxidative dehydrogenation of butane was studied at temperatures be
tween 450 and 550 degrees C using a conventional fixed-bed reactor and
inert membrane catalytic reactors with different feed arrangements. W
hen inert membrane reactors were employed, a ceramic membrane was used
to distribute oxygen to a fired bed of V-Mg-O catalyst. The membrane
reactor was found to be more efficient than a fixed-bed reactor under
most of the conditions investigated. In addition, in the membrane reac
tor the formation of hot spots decreased considerably, leading to a mo
re stable and safer operation.