Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene was investigated using Mo0.71V0.21N0.08 mixed-oxide catalyst. in powder form and coated over a monolith. At 570degreesC and with a feed stream containing an O-2/C2H6 mole ratio of one. ethylene selectivity value reaching to 96% was obtained Lit a conversion level of about 5% with the monolith-supported catalyst. DRIFTS studies indicated the presence of adsorbed ethoxide species. The proposed reaction scheme for the production of ethylene includes the elimination of beta-hydrogen of adsorbed species by the lattice oxygen.