Oxidative cracking of hydrocarbons

A method of producing one or more olefins by oxidative dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feed having a feed weight average molecular weight, the method comprising:

• a) contacting, in a first vessel, the hydrocarbon feed with:
• i) at least one oxidized oxygen transfer agent comprising at least one metal oxide;
• and
• b) oxidatively dehydrogenating the hydrocarbon feed at reaction conditions to produce a product stream comprising the one or more olefins and hydrogen;
• wherein at least a portion of the at least one oxidized oxygen transfer agent is reduced by the hydrogen at the reaction conditions to produce at least one reduced oxygen transfer agent and water;
• and
• c) combining at least a portion of the at least one reduced oxygen transfer agent with a source of oxygen to produce at least a first portion of the oxidized oxygen transfer agent and heat, wherein the first portion of oxidized oxygen transfer agent and/or the heat are fed to step a);
• wherein the i) at least one oxidized oxygen transfer agent is in combination with at least one zeolite;
• wherein inner channels of the at least one zeolite are from 3 to 8 Angstroms, the at least one zeolite has an acid nature, and the acid nature of the at least one zeolite is only on the exterior surfaces thereof;
• wherein the at least one zeolite is selected from the group consisting of zeolite Y, ZSM-5, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein the at least one metal oxide comprises oxides of Mn, oxides of Cu, and oxides of Ca;
• and
• wherein the hydrocarbon feed comprises at least one polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 1000 Daltons or higher.