Coupling of Endothermic Thermal Cracking with Exothermic Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane to Ethylene Using a Diluted SrO/La2O3 Catalyst

The energy‐efficient and safe conversion of ethane into ethylene is possible by simultaneous exothermic oxidative dehydrogenation and endothermic cracking of ethane in the presence of steam and limited amounts of O 2 , by using the thermally and hydrothermally stable supported catalyst SrO/La 2 O 3 /SA 5205 diluted with an inert support. Because the exothermic and endothermic reactions are coupled, this process requires only very little or no applied energy.