Abstract:
A solar energy based continuous process and reactor system for the production of an alkene by dehydrogenation of the corresponding alkane is performed in a reactor which process comprises alternatingly performing a first mode and a second mode in the same reactor, wherein the first mode is a non-oxidative dehydrogenation wherein the non-oxidative dehydrogenation is performed by contacting the alkane with a suitable dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of at least 500° C. to produce the corresponding alkene and hydrogen and wherein the second mode is an oxidative dehydrogenation wherein the oxidative dehydrogenation is performed by contacting the alkane with a suitable dehydrogenation catalyst and an oxidation agent at a temperature from 300 to 500° C. to produce the corresponding alkene wherein the dehydrogenation catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation and the non-oxidative dehydrogenation are the same, wherein the heat for the first mode is provided by a solar energy source.