The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane at very short contact times was studied using Cr2O3 and Pt-modified Cr2O3-coated ceramic foam monoliths and Cr2O3/Al2O3 pellet catalysts. C2H4 selectivity and C2H6 conversion increased over the Cr2O3 catalysts compared to Pt-coated monoliths. The 10 wt.% Cr2O3/ZrO2 monolith catalyst produced the best results of all catalysts examined. With the Cr2O3/ZrO2 monolith, C2H4 selectivities of 70% could be obtained at a C2H6 conversion of about 80% compared to a C2H4 selectivity of 65% and 75% C2H6 conversion under the same conditions over the Pt/alpha-Al2O3 monolith catalyst. However, in contrast to the Pt catalyst, several Cr2O3 catalysts displayed a limited lifetime. The lifetime of the Cr2O3 catalyst depends on the C2H6/O-2 feed ratio, the support material, the weight loading of the catalyst, the flowrate, the amount of N-2 dilution, and the preheat of the feed. The 10 wt.% Cr2O3/ZrO2 monolith catalyst showed no deactivation up to a C2H6/O-2 ratio of 2.4 with 20% N-2 dilution at a flowrate of 2 SLPM when Cr2O3/alpha-Al2O3 and lower weight loading of Cr2O3 On ZrO2 extinguished at a C2H6/O-2 ratio of 1.8 and showed superior alkene yield when compared to the Pt/alpha-Al2O3 catalyst under the same conditions.