Olefin Production

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Limiting CO2 formation during the reaction of lower alkanes. The Need Olefins are important precursor compounds used throughout industrial chemical syntheses. The direct conversion of lower alkanes to their respective unsaturated alkenes has the potential to impact the chemical industry in a major way. While the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes does show promise, efforts to improve conversion rate and selectivity are required for the technology to influence the chemical industry. The Market Catalysts for chemical, petrochemical, and petroleum refining processes constitute a significant business in the United States. BCC estimates total merchant sales of these products in the US in 2010 at about $4.1 billion. The total US market value is forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.5% to reach more than $4.6 billion by 2015. US dehydrogenation catalysts were expected to grow at a a CAGR of 1.9% between 2010 and 2015. Petrochemical (Petroleum and Chemical) Catalysts: The US Market | Jan 2011 | Bccresearch The Technology The Ohio State University researchers, led by Dr. Umit Ozkan, developed a catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of lower alkanes to olefins. Vanadium/molybdenum promoted by a group IA alkali metals make up the bulk of the catalyst. Silica-titania supports are used to prepare the catalysts as they provide strong metal-support interactions and effectively disperse small particles thus increasing catalyst surface area and reactivity. Category Energy, Cleantech & Environmental, Chemicals, Materials, Chemical Catalysts Intellectual Property Issued Tech ID T2000-021