A global kinetic model for high temperature homogeneous oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane

Abstract The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODHE) represents an exothermic alternative to the energy‐intensive steam cracking of ethane. In this work we evaluate ODHE conducted at higher temperatures (773–998 K) in the absence of any catalyst and develop a seven‐step global kinetic model that carries a lower degree of parametrization than those previously reported, yet captures rate features over a relatively wide range of conditions. The model is regressed against a wide array of rate data measured under conditions of strict kinetic control and predicts accurately a plethora of rate data collated from the open literature. This study illuminates unique features of high‐temperature gas phase ODHE when compared to catalytic ODHE, and points to gas phase ODHE as a plausible alternative to existing catalytic approaches to producing ethylene by means of oxidative chemistries.