Alkane oxidative dehydrogenation and/or alkene oxidation
The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising contacting a first gas stream comprising oxygen and the alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms with a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium; followed by contacting a second gas stream comprising methane, an inert gas or oxygen or any combination of two or more of these with the catalyst, wherein the second gas stream comprises 0 to 25 vol. % of the alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
1. A process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising
contacting a first gas stream comprising oxygen and the alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms with a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium; followed by
contacting a second gas stream comprising methane with the catalyst, wherein the second gas stream comprises no or substantially no alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and no or substantially no alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, followed by
stopping the contacting of the first gas stream while continuing the contacting the second gas stream.
2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature during the entire process is of from 300 to 500° C.
3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the temperature during the entire process is of from 310 to 450° C.
4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure during the entire process is of from 0.1 to 15 bara.
5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein said alkane is ethane or propane.
6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the process is a process of the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and wherein said alkene is ethylene or propylene.
7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the contacting the first gas stream is done at a first temperature and the contacting the second gas stream is done at a second temperature less than the first temperature.
8. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising stopping the contacting of the second gas stream while gradually introducing the first gas stream.
9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the second gas stream further comprises an inert gas.
10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the second gas stream further comprises an inert gas and oxygen.
11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the second gas stream further comprises oxygen.