| abstract |
There is provided a process for the net catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes to produce alkenes. The process involves simultaneous equilibrium dehydrogenation of alkanes to alkenes and combustion of the hydrogen formed to drive the equilibrium dehydrogenation reaction further to the product alkenes. In the present reaction, the alkane feed is dehydrogenated over an equilbrium dehydrogenation catalyst in a first reactor, and the effluent from the first reactor is then passed into a second reactor containing a reducible metal oxide which serves to selectively combust hydrogen in an oxidation/reduction (REDOX) reaction. This particular mode of operation is termed a separate reactor, REDOX mode. |