Calcium–nickel–lithium oxide: a high selectivity catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene

Novel calcium–nickel oxides promoted by alkali metal are shown to be highly selective for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene; 93.6% selectivity for ethylene with 25% ethane conversion over Ca1Ni0.4Li0.35 oxide catalyst is attained at 600 °C.