Method of microwave bond cleavage of a hydrocarbon compound in a liquid phase

摘要

The method of the present invention is a microwave bond cleavage of a first hydrocarbon compound, the first hydrocarbon compound in a liquid phase and substantially non-aqueous, to a second compound having a shorter carbon chain than the first hydrocarbon compound. The method has the steps of exposing a combination of the first hydrocarbon compound with a supported catalyst having a carrier of a non-metallic amorphous solid with at least one catalytic metal dispersed therein to microwave energy thereby converting the first hydrocarbon compound into the second hydrocarbon compound, and recovering the second hydrocarbon compound. Advantages of the present invention include use of a low cost supported catalyst at ambient temperature and pressure.