Patent ID: 7227049

Claim:
A method for preparing a C 2 to C 4 alkene or a substituted C 2 to C 4 alkene from the corresponding C 2 to C 4 alkane or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane, the method comprising providing a reaction zone comprising the corresponding C 2 to C 4 alkene or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkene in a molar concentration of at least 10%, relative to total moles of hydrocarbon and a catalyst comprising Ni, a Ni oxide, a Ni salt or mixtures thereof, feeding a C 2 to C 4 alkane or a substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane and a gaseous oxidant to the reaction zone, maintaining the reaction zone at a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 350° C., and oxidatively dehydrogenating the C 2 to C 4 alkane or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane to form the corresponding C 2 to C 4 alkene or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkene in the reaction zone under reaction conditions effective to convert the C 2 to C 4 alkane or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane to the C 2 to C 4 alkene or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkene, the C 2 to C 4 alkane or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane conversion being at least about 5%, and the C 2 to C 4 alkene or substituted C 2 to C 4 alkane selectivity being at least about 50%.