Oxidative conversion of light alkanes diluted by nitrogen, helium or methane

•Gas-phase oxidation of diluted C2–C5 alkanes proceeds via chain-branching mechanism.•Both hydrocarbon and oxygen convert almost similarly in space and time.•Oxygen significantly increases the rate of the conversion and decreases its time.•Oxygen inhibits the formation of heavy products.•The nature of diluting gas significantly influences on the conversion.

Abundant resources and low prices make natural gas very attractive as petrochemical feedstock and increase the interest to its oxidative conversion to basic petrochemicals. The paper presents results of gas-phase oxidative conversion of light C2–C5 alkanes diluted by nitrogen, helium or methane ([СnН2n+2]0 ⩽ 5%) at low oxygen [О2]0/[СnН2n+2]0 = 0.2–1, atmospheric pressure and temperatures 500–750 °C. Even significantly diluted, light alkanes display a chain-branching behavior at oxidation with a sharp transition trough a self-ignition limit. Oxygen significantly increases conversion and decreases reaction time, especially at intermediate temperatures below that of thermal cracking. The nature of diluting gas significantly influences on the process.

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