High-temperature and short-contact-time oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane in the presence of Pt/Al2O3 and BaMnAl11O19 catalysts

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over a Pt/gamma -Al2O3 catalyst in adiabatic conditions (that is at T= 800-1000 degreesC and few milliseconds contact time) resulted in the production of ethylene with 50% yield. In ord er to better elucidate the single roles that gasphase reactions and heterog eneous phase reactions might play in the high-temperature activation of eth ane, a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation was addressed. T he results suggested that the performance of the adiabatic reactor relied o n a cooperation between catalytic reactions (responsible for deep and parti al oxidation of ethane to COx, H2O, and H-2) and homogeneous reactions (res ponsible for the formation of olefins). In autothermal conditions, thus, th e main function of the Pt-catalyst appeared to be that of accelerating igni tion of the radical process, through the initial combustion of ethane which can occur at temperatures as low as 200 degreesC. It was demonstrated that the same function can be equally well accomplished by a Pt-free oxidation catalyst like the BaMnAl11O19 which is active in the deep oxidation of etha ne. Even in the presence of the hexa-aluminate material, which has no activ ity in the selective oxidation of ethane to ethylene, yields to ethylene hi gher than 50% were observed in the autothermal reactor by preheating the et hane/air feed stream at a proper temperature. (C) 2001 Academic Press.