Disproportionation of Alkanes via Molecular Redistribution and Molecular Averaging

Abstract

In this paper the disproportionation of alkanes via molecular redistribution (MR) and molecular averaging (MA) is discussed. MR/MA chemistry consists of three steps occurring in one single catalyst bed over a bifunctional catalyst system: dehydrogenation of alkanes to olefinic intermediates, metathesis (disproportionation) of these olefin species and hydrogenation of the metathesis products to alkanes. MR/MA represents a unique and rare example of bifunctional heterogeneous catalysis while there are many examples of acid components being one of the bifunctional elements with a metal, e.g., in reforming, hydrocracking and isomerization reactions. MR/MA chemistry provides simple processes which can be accomplished otherwise only via combinations of other existing chemistries. In this paper, we will use MR of pentanes as an example to demonstrate one industrial application of the MR chemistry.