| abstract |
The present invention relates to a thermally integrated multi-zone process for conversion of alkanes to their corresponding alkenes, involving endothermically converting an alkane to its corresponding alkene by soft oxidant conversion in an endothermic reaction zone, in the presence of a weak oxidant, a suitable catalyst, and heat, to produce an intermediate product gas comprising the corresponding alkene and hydrogen. The weak oxidant may be, for example, carbon dioxide. The hydrogen is then removed from the intermediate product gas by contacting the intermediate product gas, in an exothermic reaction zone, with different second catalyst, and oxygen, to combust the hydrogen and produce a heated product stream comprising the corresponding alkene, water and heat. Heat is recovered from the heated product stream and recycled back to the endothermic reaction zone, while the resulting cooled product stream comprising the corresponding alkene may be subjected to further reaction and/or processing. |