The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane into ethylene by carbon dioxide ove
r an unsupported Cr2O3 and several supported Cr2O3 catalysts on metal oxide
s such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2 was investigated and the effect of su
pport on the catalytic activity was studied. The unsupported Cr2O3 shows me
dium catalytic activity in this reaction; the support will exert a quite di
fferent effect on catalytic behavior. The catalytic activity varies with th
e nature of supports. Cr2O3/SiO2 catalysts exhibit an excellent performance
in this reaction. Cr2O3 loading also affects the catalytic activity; 8 wt.
% Cr2O3/SiO2 catalysts can produce 55.5% ethylene yield at 61% ethane conve
rsion at 650 degrees C. Characterization indicates that the distribution of
chromium oxide on supports and surface chromium species structure are infl
uenced by the nature of supports. The acidity/basicity and redox property o
f catalysts determines the catalytic activity in the dehydrogenation of eth
ane by carbon dioxide. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.