Ethane oxidative dehydrogenation process

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene by oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane, comprising: a) supplying ethane and oxygen to a first ODH zone which is formed by multiple reactor tubes containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; b) contacting the ethane and oxygen with the catalyst resulting in multiple effluent streams, wherein the multiple reactor tubes are cooled by a coolant; c) mixing at least a portion of the multiple effluent streams from step b) resulting in a mixture comprising ethylene, unconverted ethane and unconverted oxygen; d) supplying at least a portion of the mixture from step c) to a second ODH zone containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; e) contacting at least a portion of the mixture from step c) with the catalyst in the second ODH zone resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and unconverted ethane.