Ethane oxidative dehydrogenation to ethylene in a membrane reactor with asymmetric ceramic membranes

Abstract The process of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODE) was carried out in a catalytic membrane reactor-distributor on a Mo-V-Te-Ox catalyst supported on asymmetric ceramic membranes. The obtained results show the obvious advantages of ODE with the use of a membrane system. Application of the membrane approach allows us to use initial gas mixtures with the O 2 :C 2 H 6 ratios that are unacceptable for safety reasons in conventional reactors. Under optimal process conditions, the conversion of ethane of 70% can be achieved in a membrane reactor while maintaining the ethylene selectivity in the range of 95–98%.