Coupling of Endothermic Thermal Cracking with Exothermic Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane to Ethylene Using a Diluted SrO/La2O3 Catalyst

The energy-efficient and safe conversion of ethane into ethylene is possible by simultaneous exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation and endothermic cracking of ethane in the presence of steam and limited amounts of O 2 , by using the thermally and hydrothermally stable supported catalyst SrO/La 2 O 3 /SA 5205 diluted with an inert support. Because the exothermic and endothermic reactions are coupled, this process requires only very little or no applied energy.