Alkali-metal doped sulfated zirconia catalysts were tested for the oxidativ
e dehydrogenation of ethane into ethene. The effects of metal precursor com
pounds and acidic anion promoters on the catalytic activity in this reactio
n were studied. It was found that sulfation of zirconia increases the selec
tivity of ethane towards ethene. Lithium-, sodium-, and potassium-doped sul
fated zirconia catalysts showed quite different activities in this reaction
. Sulfated zirconia doped with lithium catalysts were found to be effective
for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, giving over 90% selectivity t
o ethene and 25% ethene yield at 650 degrees C. (C) 1999 Society of Chemica
l Industry.