Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Alkanes using Oxygen-Permeable Membrane Reactor

The oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactions of ethane and propane were investigated in a catalytic membrane reactor, incorporating oxygen-permeable membranes based upon La₂Ni_0.9V_0.1O_4+δor Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3-δ. As a compromise between the occurrence of a measureable oxygen flux and excessive homogenous gas phase reactions, the measurements were conducted at an intermediate temperature, either at 550 or 650 oC. The results show the dominating role of the oxygen flux across the membrane and available sites at the membrane surface in primary activation of the alkane and, hence, in achieving high alkane conversions. The experimental data of ODH of propane and ethane on both membrane materials can be reconciled on the basis of Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, in which the alkane reacts with lattice oxygen on the membrane surface to produce the corresponding olefin. It is further demonstrated that the oxygen concentration in the gas phase and on the membrane surface is crucial for determining the olefin selectivity.