Selective hydrogenolysis of alkanes to ethane - using rhodium or iridium catalyst mounted on low sulphate refactory oxide carrier

摘要

Ethane is made by selective hydrogenolysis of alkanes by introducing a mixt. of H2 and alkanes under a total pressure P into a reactor at a space rate V, and contg. a catalyst contg. at least one metal chosen from Ir and Rh on a refractory oxide carrier low in sulphate ions SO4--, at a temp. T. The hydrogenolysis proceeds selectively to give high yields of ethane, which can be thermally cracked to give ethylene and hydrogen which is recycled to the hydrogenolysis stage.