Oxidation reactions of ethane over Ba-Ce-O based perovskites

Ethane oxidation reactions were studied over pure and Ca-, Mg-, Sr-, La-, N d-, and Y-substituted BaCeO3 perovskites under oxygen limited conditions. S everal of the materials, notably the Ca- and Y-substituted materials, show activity for complete oxidation of the hydrocarbon to CO2 at temperatures b elow 650 degrees C. At higher temperatures, the oxidative dehydrogenation ( ODH) to ethylene becomes significant. Conversions and ethylene yields are e nhanced by the perovskites above the thermal reaction in our system in some cases. The perovskite structure is not retained in the high temperature re action environment. Rather, a mixture of carbonates and oxides is formed. L oss of the perovskite structure correlates with a loss of activity and sele ctivity to ethylene. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.