Silicon oxide role in the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane (ODHE) to produce ethylene: support and substrate of nickel-based catalysts.

P. BRUSSINO; E. L. MEHRING; E. D. BANÚS; N. L. COURTALÓN; J. P. BORTOLOZZI

Advances in Materials Science Research

Nova Science

Lugar: New York; Año: 2023; p. 187 - 212

Ethylene is one of the most demanded compoundsworldwide, as it is the precursor of an important amount of products (textiles,pharmaceuticals, paints, electronics, etc.). At present, this olefin isglobally produced by one of the most energy-consuming processes: the steamcracking of naphtha or ethane. Given the environmental context in which theworld is at, a greener route to obtain this compound is needed to approach asustainable development. The Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane (ODHE) is analternative that could satisfy the energetic and productivity requirements, ifit is operated with an adequate catalyst. Nickel oxide-based formulations areamong the main catalysts studied for this reaction since these are relativelyeconomic and easy to synthesize. These catalysts can operate under powder orstructured forms. Bulk NiO has a strong oxidant character and therefore, itsethane conversion is high but the selectivity to the alkene is markedly low.Thus, to increase its selectivity it is either generally mixed with anotheroxide or supported on an adequate material. The last option offers theadvantage of the small amount of active material employed. On the other hand,the use of structured catalysts is valuable due to the number of benefits theyprovide in comparison to the powder formulations. This research explores theappliance of silicon oxide as a part of the substrate in fiber-based structuredcatalysts as well as an integrant of supports for NiO, and its impacts on theoxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to produce ethylene.