Patent ID: 6518476
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: C07C,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for producing olefins from at least one lower alkane by oxidative dehydrogenation, which comprises:(1) supplying at least one lower alkane; (2) providing a source of oxygen; (3) converting a portion of the lower alkane by an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction process that utilizes a catalyst, to produce unconverted lower alkane containing at least one olefin product, at least one alkane byproduct, and water, wherein the reaction pressure is at least about 50 psi and the olefin product and the alkane byproduct are formed from the lower alkane with a combined selectivity of at least about 40%; (4) removing water from the unconverted lower alkane; (5) recovering the at least one olefin product from the unconverted lower alkane by using a complexation separation that utilizes at least one complexation agent to selectively remove olefins from non-olefins and which is not a membrane separation; and (6) recycling after steps (4) and (5) a majority of the unconverted lower alkane which contains the at least one alkane byproduct to the oxidative dehydrogenation reaction process of step (3).