Oxygenates and olefins from alkanes in a single-gauze reactor at short contact times

Partial oxidation of linear C-1-C-5 alkanes in single-gauze reactors has be en examined in the fuel-rich regime at contact times as low as 100 mu s. We show that, whereas methane and ethane produce mostly CO and ethylene, resp ectively, propane, butane, and pentane give high selectivity to oxygenates and olefins, Partial oxidation of propane over a single gauze gives a total selectivity to olefins of nearly 60% with a 2/1 C3H6/C2H4 ratio and minima l oxygenates. Butane oxidation gives a significant amount of oxygenated pro ducts, mainly acetaldehyde and formaldehyde with a more open gauze, giving better selectivities. Pentane oxidation gives the highest oxygenate selecti vities (up to 60%), the main products being acetaldehyde and propionaldehyd e. We argue that this is a coupled heterogeneously initiated homogeneous re action system, with total combustion primarily catalyzed by the Pt surface and the oxygenates and olefins formed subsequently by gas-phase reactions. (C) 1999 Academic Press.