Energy efficient simultaneous oxidative conversion and thermal cracking of ethane to ethylene using supported BaO/La2O3 catalyst in the presence of limited O2

• Published in: Applied energy Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 377 - 386
• Main Authors: CHOUDHARY, V. R, MULLA, S. A. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Science 01-04-2001; Elsevier
• Series: Applied Energy
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy efficient conversion of ethane to ethylene Simultaneous of exothermic and endothermic reactions Supported Ba-promoted La2O3 catalyst Thermal cracking of ethane Oxidative conversion of ethane; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel processing. Carbochemistry and petrochemistry; Fuels; Gas processing; Barium oxide; Thermal cracking; Steam cracking; Ethylene; Oxidation; Supported catalyst; Ethane; Lanthanum oxide
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-2619(00)00064-7

An energy efficient conversion of ethane to ethylene involving simultaneous oxidative conversion (which is exothermic) and thermal cracking (which is endothermic) reactions of ethane in the presence of steam (steam/C2H6 mol RATIO=1.0) and limited O2 (C2H6/O2 mol ratio [greater-or-equal, slanted] 4.0) over a BaO-promoted La2O3 supported on low surface area macroporous silica-alumina commercial catalyst carrier has been thoroughly investigated. Influence of various process parameters such as temperature (700-850°C), C2H6/O2 feed ratio (4.0-8.0) and space velocity (50,000-200,000 cm3 g-1 h-1) on the conversion, product selectivity and net heat of reactions in the process has also been studied. At all the process conditions, there was no coke deposition on the catalyst. High selectivity ([greater-or-equal, slanted] 85%) for C2+ olefins (at 50-60% conversion) can be obtained in the process at a low contact time (<10 ms), particularly for the higher C2H6/O2 ratios ([greater-or-equal, slanted] 6.0) and temperatures ([greater-or-equal, slanted] 800°C). The process exothermicity is decreased appreciably with increasing the temperature and/ or the C2H6/O2 ratio. The net heat of reaction in the process can be controlled by manipulating the C2H6/O2 ratio and reaction temperature. Also, because of simultaneously occurring endothermic and exothermic reactions, the process is highly energy efficient and non-hazardous.