SEPARATION OF CATALYST OXIDATION AND REDUCTION - AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CONVENTIONAL OXIDATION OF N-BUTANE TO MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE

The separation of the redox-process in selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride was simulated by using the pulse-technique. influences of the reoxidation-temperature and the reaction-temperature were examined separately, also the influences of catalyst-residence-time and educt-concentration. Yields up to 78% were achieved. Problems still arise from the long duration of catalyst reoxidation which reduces the space-time-yield to a barely economic level.