PROCESS FOR THE CATALYTIC DEHYDROGENATION OF ALKANES TO ALKENES WITH SIMULTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF HYDROGEN

摘要

A process for the net catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes to produce alkenes is provided. 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 equilibrium dehydrogenation catalyst in a first reactor (110) and the effluent, along with oxygen is then passed into the second reactor (120) containing a metal oxide catalyst which serves to selectively catalyze the combustion of hydrogen. The equilibrium dehydrogenation catalyst may comprise platinum and the selective metal oxide combustion catalyst may contain bismuth, antimony, indium, or molybdenum, or a mixture thereof.