Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Ethane: A Mini Review of Recent Advances and Perspective of Chemical Looping Technology

Abstract

Dehydrogenation processes play an important role in the petrochemical industry. High selectivity towards olefins is usually hindered by numerous side reactions in a conventional cracking/pyrolysis technology. Herein, we show recent studies devoted to selective ethylene production via oxidative and non-oxidative reactions. This review summarizes the progress that has been achieved with ethane conversion in terms of the process effectivity. Briefly, steam cracking, catalytic dehydrogenation, oxidative dehydrogenation (with CO2/O2), membrane technology, and chemical looping are reviewed.

Keywords

• ethylene
• ethane
• dehydrogenation
• cracking
• membrane technology
• chemical looping