Controlled autoxidation to produce value added chemicals from light alkane

The aim of the proposed study is to develop an alternative, sustainable, and economic method to produce value added chemicals from light alkane following a controlled autoxidation approach. Light alkane is being produced in huge amount during upgrading/refining process of crude oils. Light naphtha contains large percentage of n-hexane has lower economic value. It is possible to functionalize them by using a cheap and sustainable oxidising agent - air to produce alcohol and ketone. These alcohols and ketones have higher market value. Moreover, these value-added chemicals can also be used as intermediates to produce corresponding carboxylic acids, and precursors for polymer industry. One of the prominent way to produce alcohol and ketone is the catalytic selective oxidation. However, traditional catalytic route is expensive, generates waste, and requires catalyst recovery. Therefore, it is important to develop an alternative and economically viable process to functionalize light hydrocarbons to produce value added chemicals from light naphtha fractions