| abstract |
A process for producing ethylene comprising: (a) reacting a reactant mixture in a reactor to yield a product mixture, wherein the reactor comprises a catalyst, wherein the reactant mixture comprises ethane, oxygen, and a chlorine intermediate precursor, wherein the product mixture comprises ethylene, unreacted ethane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises a redox agent, an alkali metal, and a rare earth element; and (b) recovering at least a portion of the ethylene from the product mixture. The reacting in step (a) further comprises (i) contacting at least a portion of the chlorine intermediate precursor with the catalyst to form a chlorinated catalyst; (ii) allowing at least a portion of the chlorinated catalyst to generate a chlorine intermediate; and (iii) allowing at least a portion of the reactant mixture to react via the chlorine intermediate. |