Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane Technology

Currently steam-cracking represents the state of the art technology for the production of olefins, especially ethylene and propylene. These vital petrochemicals are used within a wide range of downstream processes, and as such continuing growth is expected. The steam-cracking process is mature and well-established.

The steam-cracking feedstock shift to lighter hydrocarbons, primarily ethane, in the last decade has prompted an investigation for new alternative production routes to ethylene. In contrast to propylene (e.g. PDH technology), for ethylene no relevant commercial scale alternative production route has yet been developed.

This situation has begun to change as in development there is a new process technology for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane (ODH-E.) Linde, partnering with Clariant for the catalyst development, is developing a process demonstrating a high selectivity to valuable products with potentially greater profitability than steam cracker technology for small and mid-scale plants, with a significantly reduced CO₂ footprint. The presentation will discuss the ongoing development of this promising process technology, its current status, and relevant performance information.