Fig. 5: Schematic diagram of possible EDH reaction routes.

Primary pathways of ethane conversion are represented by routes I-III. Route I: combustion side reactions leading to COx and H2O, route II: oxidative ethane dehydrogenation with lattice oxygen, and route III: non-oxidative ethane dehydrogenation to ethylene and hydrogen. Consecutive transformations of ethylene to methane and coke are represented by routes IV and V, respectively.