SIMPLE CHEMICAL PROCESSES BASED ON LOW-MOLECULAR-MASS ALKANES AS CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS

The present state of new developments in direct catalytic conversion o f low-molecular-mass alkanes (C-1-C-3) to petrochemical feedstocks and petrochemicals is reviewed. Special attention is given to the followi ng reactions: methane to methanol and formaldehyde by partial oxidatio n as well as to C-2 hydrocarbons by oxidative coupling, ethane and pro pane to their olefins by oxidative dehydrogenation and to their oxygen ates, i.e., acetic acid, acrylic acid and acrolein by partial oxidatio n. Specific research results are presented on the oxidative dehydrogen ation of ethane and propane. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.