Membrane-supported catalysts and the process of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane using the same

1. A process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a C 2-6 alkane having a purity of greater than 95% to the corresponding olefins at a selectivity of not less than 95% of said corresponding olefin comprising:

continuously supplying an oxygen containing gas and said alkane to the opposite sides of an inert porous ceramic membrane with a catalytic dehydrogenation catalyst supported on the surface of the porous ceramic membrane exposed to said alkane at a temperature from 300° C. to 550° C., a pressure from 0.5 to 100 psi (3.447 to 689.47 KPa), a productivity of not less than 1000 g of olefin per kg of catalyst per hour and an hourly space velocity of alkane and oxygen containing gas of not less than 900 h −1 ,

wherein the oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst is supported on inert porous ceramic membrane having a surface area from 10 to 200 m 2 /g, a pore volume from 0.1 to 0.5 ml/g and is selected from the group consisting of oxides of titanium, zirconium, aluminum, silicon and mixture thereof, to provide from 1 to 20 weight % of said catalyst and from 99 to 80 weight % of said porous membrane;

and wherein said catalytic dehydrogenation catalyst comprises a mixed oxide catalyst selected from the group consisting of mixed oxide catalysts of the formula V x Mo y Nb z Te m Me n O p , wherein Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ta, Sb, Hf, W, Y, Zn, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Sn, Bi, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ag, Cd, Os, Ir, Au, and mixture thereof; and

x is from 0.1 to 0.9;

y is from 0.001 to 0.5;

z is from 0.001 to 0.5;

m is from 0.001 to 0.5;

n is from 0.001 to 0.5;

p is a number to satisfy the valence state of the mixed oxide catalyst; the ratio of x:m is from 0.5 to 8; and wherein said catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst also comprises at least one component capable of extracting oxygen from said oxygen containing gas while it passes through said catalyst and releasing oxygen to the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction while said alkane passes through said catalyst to prevent the formation of an explosive mixture of said alkane and said oxygen containing gas.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the oxygen containing gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen and mixtures comprising from 100 to 21 vol. % of oxygen and from 0 to 79 vol. % of one or more inert gases.

3. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is supported by impregnation of the porous ceramic membrane with a suspension of fine powder of the said catalyst in an aqueous slurry.

4. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is supported by coating or co-precipitation of the components of the mixed oxide catalyst onto the porous ceramic membrane with a suspension of fine powder of the said catalyst in water.

5. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is supported by brushing of the porous ceramic membrane with a suspension of fine powder of the said catalyst in water.

6. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst is supported by spraying of the porous ceramic membrane with a suspension of fine powder of the said catalyst in water.

7. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the space-time yield of ethylene is not less than 1500 g/h per kg of catalyst.

8. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst has the formula V x Mo y Nb z Te m Me n O p , wherein Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ta, Sb, Hf, W, Y, Zn, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Sn, Bi, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt, Ag, Cd, Os, Ir, Au, and mixture thereof; and

x is from 0.2 to 0.5;

y is from 0.1 to 0.45;

z is from 0.1 to 0.45;

m is from 0.1 to 0.45;

n is from 0.01 to 0.45;

and p is a number to satisfy the valence state of the mixed oxide catalyst.