Waste nitrous oxide was used as an oxidant for ethane oxydehydrogenation performed at the range of temperature from 350 to 450 degrees C over iron modified zeolite catalysts. Different zeolite matrices (zeolite ZSM-5 of different Si/Al ratio, H-Y, mordenite) modified with iron cations introduced into zeolite by means of ionic exchange were applied as catalysts for the reaction under study. Additionally, amorphous silica and alumina silica as well as silicalite of MFI structure were also used as a matrix for iron ions accommodation and they were tested for oxydehydrogenation reaction. It was found that only iron modified zeolites showed activity for reaction under study. Amorphous oxide supports and crystalline neutral silicalite modified with iron cations by means of impregnation were completely inactive for oxydehydrogenation reaction. The best catalytic performance was found on iron modified zeolites of MFI structure. The Si/Al ratio of the ZSM-5 matrix influenced the activity for ethane oxydehydrogenation reaction insignificantly. N2O oxidant was partly utilized for ethane oxidation (towards ethene or carbon oxides), while some part of the oxidant was decomposed to nitrogen and oxygen. Performing the reaction at 450 degrees C resulted in a high ethene yield and complete N2O removal. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.