Oxidative cracking of n-hexane: a catalytic pathway to olefins

Steam cracking, the major, current existing route for light olefin production, is the most energy consuming process in the chemical industry. The need for an energy efficient processes, urged substantial research work for the development of new catalytic technologies for light olefin production. Steam cracking maximizes ethylene formation and propylene is produced only as a secondary product. The faster increase in demand of propylene than that of ethylene makes steam cracking a less attractive route for the production of propylene. Thus, catalytic pathways that provide for more propylene formation are essential. The present thesis investigates catalytic pathways for n‐hexane cracking, as a model compound of naphtha, in the presence of oxygen. Compared to steam cracking, this work aims towards achieving; (i) lower cracking temperatures making the overall process less energy consuming and (ii) higher selectivities to both propylene and butylenes.