Abstract: Areview is presented on coupling of dehydrogenation of ethane with reversed watergas shift reaction for ethylene synthesis. The SiO₂ and Silicalite2 supported chromium, manganese and iron oxide catalysts were found to exhibit a high performance in the dehydrogenation of ethane in the presence of CO₂. CO₂ can be activated by the surface basicity. The results show that the synergetic action of acidity and basicity is important to the increase of the catalytic activity. The function of CO₂ is to abstract H₂ and to resistant coke formation during the dehydrogenation of ethane. The reaction mechanism and effects of reaction condition on the dehydrogenation of ethane were also evaluated.

Key words: Ethane dehydrogenation, Reversed watergas shift reaction, Coupling, Ethylene