Ethane conversion in the presence of CO2 over Co-based ZSM-5 zeolite: Co species controlling the reaction pathway

•Cobalt-exchanged ZSM-5 catalyst shows good ethane dehydrogenation activity.•Cobalt-impregnated ZSM-5 proceeds dry reforming of ethane to produce syngas.•Different pathways come from different nature of cobalt species in two catalysts.•The redox cobalt species can facilitate the formation of intermediates for syngas.