Studies on Heat and Mass Transfer Limitations in Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane Over Cr2O3 /Al2O3 Catalyst☆

Abstract In heterogeneous catalytic reactions the heat and mass transfer play a vital role in affecting the rate of a reaction. Mass transfer limitations include both the internal and external diffusion of components into and out of the catalyst while heat transfer limitations include whether the reaction taking place is isothermal in nature and to find maximum temperature within the catalyst particle during the course of reaction. In the study of intrinsic rates of reaction both the diffusion mechanism should be negligible prior to the kinetic studies. Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 using CO 2 as oxidant was investigated in a fixed bed reactor. The order of reaction is considered to be One and the internal and external diffusion is studied by Weisz Prater and Mears criteria. Temperature difference with in the catalyst particle computed to check the heat transfer limitations.