Oxidation of hydrocarbons in a barrier discharge reactor

The oxidation of n-hexane, cyclohexane, cumene (isopropylbenzene), and cyclohexene in a barrier discharge reactor under conditions ensuring effective product transport out of the discharge zone was studied. It was shown that hydrocarbon oxidation reactions can be carried out in barrier discharge plasma reactors with a fairly high selectivity. The oxidation of n-hexane, cyclohexane, and cumene primarily yields the hydroxy and carbonyl compounds alcohols, aldehydes and ketones. The major product of cyclohexene oxidation is epoxycyclohexane (~62 wt %).