The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene and acetylene with carbon dioxide at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure by pulse corona plasma over various catalysts has been investigated. The products included C2H4, C2H2 and syngas (H-2 and CO). The conversion of ethane and distribution of products depend on the catalyst used, the C2H6CO2 feed ratio, the energy density of plasma, etc. The rare earth metal oxides catalyst such as La2O3/gamma-Al2O3 and CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 enhance the conversion of ethane and the yield of ethylene and acetylene. The sequence of ethane conversion and yield of ethylene and acetylene is from CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 to La2O3/gamma-Al2O3. The metal catalyst Pd/gamma-Al2O3 exhibits big : h ethylene selectivity. The optimum C2H6/CO2 ratio in the feed for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane under plasma catalytic conditions is 1/1. The conversion of ethane and the yield of ethylene and acetylene increase with increasing of the energy density of plasma. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.