Production of olefins via oxidative dehydrogenation of light paraffins at short contact times

Experiments of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane in the presence of a Pt/ gamma -Al2O3 catalyst were performed at high temperatures and short contact rimes under isothermal and adiabatic conditions. High ethene yields were o bserved. The comparison of the catalytic data with the results of gas-phase experiments and with the predictions of a detailed kinetic model of homoge neous oxidative pyrolysis of hydrocarbons suggested that radical reactions had a fundamental role in the synthesis of olefins, while the catalyst phas e mostly behaved as heat supplier through combustion routes. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.