Provided in this disclosure is a process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower alkane into a corresponding alkene. The process includes providing a gas stream comprising the lower alkane to a reactor; contacting, in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor, the lower alkane with a catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide; and providing to the last 50% of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor a stream comprising from 0.01 vol. % to 10 vol. % of a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohol.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts for converting lower paraffins to alkenes such as ethane to ethylene when prepared as an agglomeration, for example extruded with supports chosen from slurries of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlO(OH) and mixtures thereof have a lower temperature at which 25% conversion is obtained.

A method of converting one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes that includes a) providing a first stream containing one or more alkanes and oxygen to an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor; b) converting at least a portion of the one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor to provide a second stream exiting the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor containing one or more alkanes, one or more alkenes, oxygen, carbon monoxide and optionally acetylene; and c) providing the second stream to a second reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert a least a portion of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting the acetylene.

Processes and associated reaction systems for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane are provided. In particular, a process is provided that comprises supplying a feed gas comprising ethane and oxygen to a multitubular fixed-bed reactor and allowing the ethane and oxygen to react in the presence of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst to yield a reactor effluent comprising ethylene; and supplying a coolant to an interior shell space of the multitubular fixed-bed reactor in a flow pattern that is co-current with the flow of the feed gas through reactor.

A novel catalyst and process for producing a mixed oxide material containing molybdenum, vanadium, tellurium and niobium is disclosed. The material can be used as a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene or the oxidation of propane to acrylic acid.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts comprising MoVNbTeO having improved consistency of composition and a 25% conversion of ethylene at less than 420 C. and a selectivity to ethylene above 95% are prepared by treating the catalyst precursor with H.sub.2O.sub.2 in an amount equivalent to 0.30-2.8 mL H.sub.2O.sub.2 of a 30% solution per gram of catalyst precursor prior to calcining.

Incorporating into a fixed bed reactor for an exothermal reaction having a catalyst supported on a support having a thermal conductivity typically less than 30 W/mk within the reaction temperature control limits heat dissipative particles having a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mk less than 30 W/mk within the reaction temperature control limits helps control the temperature of the reactor bed.

The preparation of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst comprising Mo, V, Nb and Te using a hydrothermal step. In some embodiments, the activity and reproducibility of the catalyst is improved by conducting the hydrothermal step while permitting gaseous products to leave the reactor. In some instances a condenser may be upstream of the outlet of the reactor.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts for converting lower paraffins to alkenes such as ethane to ethylene when prepared as an agglomeration, for example extruded with supports chosen from slurries of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlO(OH) and mixtures thereof have a lower temperature at which 25% conversion is obtained.

A novel coated catalyst having an outer shell which is composed of a catalyst material having high surface area and contains molybdenum, vanadium, tellurium and niobium, and the use of this catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene or the oxidation of propane to acrylic acid and also a process for producing the catalyst is disclosed.