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Article: The Technology Frontier: Alkane Activation.
- Article from:
- Chemical Market Reporter
- Article date:
- December 20, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Schnell Publishing Company, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Midway through this century, acetylene became the major feedstock in the synthesis of commodity petrochemicals. Dangerous and expensive, however, it was substantially replaced by cheaper olefins when selective transition metal catalysts made their oxidation commercially feasible. Since then, researchers in both academia and industry have worked to replace olefins with alkanes, an even cheaper, more plentiful starting material. Much of the most promising work has been done over the last 15 years. Numerous patents have been issued, and some processes have been commercialized, though hampered by poor selectivity. Work continues, however, and if broader applicability and ...