Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane over Co–BaCO3 catalysts using CO2 as oxidant: effects of Co promoter

Co–BaCO3 catalysts exhibited high catalytic performance for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODE) using CO2 as oxidant. The maximal formation rate of C2H4 was 0.264 mmol · min−1 · (g · cat.)−1 (48.0% C2H6 conversion, 92.2% C2H4 selectivity, 44.3% C2H4 yield) on 7 wt% Co–BaCO3 catalyst at 650 °C and 6000 ml. (g · cat.)−1. h−1. Co–BaCO3 catalysts were comparatively characterized by XRF, N2 isotherm adsorption-desorption, XRD, H2-TPR and LRs. It was found that Co4+–O species were active sites on these catalysts in ODE with CO2. The redox cycle of Co–O species played an important role on the catalytic performance of Co–BaCO3 catalysts. On the other hand, the co-operation of BaCO3 and BaCoO3 was considered to be one of possible reasons for the high catalytic activity of these catalysts.