Conclusion

This article, which focuses on two potential application areas for bifunctional heterogeneous catalysis - the upgrading of light alkanes and the synthesis of functionalized organic compounds (Fine Chemicals) - confirms the major economic and ecological advantages of this type of catalysis, both in terms of reducing the number of reaction and intermediate separation stages involved, and in terms of reducing waste production. While these advantages have led to its success in major oil refining and petrochemical processes, its extension to the upgrading of light alkanes and to Fine Chemicals has been slow to materialize. For the upgrading of light alkanes, only two processes are operational: the hydroisomerization of n-butane, which although using a bifunctional catalyst (highly chlorinated Pt/Al ₂ O ₃ ...