Enhancement of ethylene selectivity in chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane using manganese-based redox catalysts supported on HY zeolite

As the crucial role of zeolite catalysts becomes increasingly prominent in refining and petrochemical industries, this study introduces a novel application of xMn / HY catalysts in ethane catalytic dehydrogenation via Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation (CL-ODH). The synergistic effect of manganese oxides on the HY framework and a moderate amount of acidic sites within the catalyst facilitates the cleavage of C-H bonds and the desorption of olefins, which are vital for advancing ethane CL-ODH. We identified the reasons for maintaining high ethylene selectivity using advanced characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD, and Py-IR. Notably, under optimized conditions at 700 °C with a gas time-space velocity (GHSV) of 1800 mL·h⁻¹·g⁻¹, the 3Mn/HY catalyst achieved approximately 97.1 % selectivity for ethylene and a 22.7 % conversion of ethane. These findings present a scalable route for ethylene production, showcasing significant industrial relevance by potentially reducing energy costs and improving yield.