The Fischer-Tropsch process in South Africa, used for producing chemicals from synthesis gas, which is mostly derived from the gasification of coal, gives a large amount of medium chain length alkanes (C4-C8), which have little commercial value. Internationally, industry has recently placed more focus on the conversion of alkanes to value-added products. Two important routes to achieving this are dehydrogenation and oxidative dehydrogenation. The latter is an economically feasible route, in which there is growing interest by the international research community, and was investigated in this study. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

Abstract of Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Illinois, 1930. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: p. [5], [6].