DILUTION OF THE REACTANTS OF AN OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF ALKANES WITH CARBON DIOXIDE

摘要

A process for oxydehydrogenating an alkane to a corresponding alkene, particularly ethane to ethylene, wherein a feed comprising the alkane, an oxygen-containing oxidizing agent and a diluent comprising CO2 are provided to a reactor. Oxidative dehydrogenation with oxygen takes place in the reactor in the presence of a catalyst to convert the alkane to a product stream which includes the corresponding alkene. The oxygen used as the oxidizing agent may be supplied in stoichiometric amount or in stoichiometric excess.