Autocatalysis is the catalysis of a reaction in which the catalyst is one of the products of the reaction that is itself the catalyst for that reaction, or the increase of the rate of reaction due to the catalysing effect of the reaction products. Autocatalysis is typical of both gas- and liquid-phase hydrocarbon oxidations. Liquid-phase hydrocarbon oxidations are thus degenerately branched chain processes, the branching agent being the hydroperoxide.
Related Definitions in the Project: The Process Engineering
