To realize better economic benefits in the petrochemical industry, conversion of lower hydrocarbons such as C1 to C4 alkanes to higher value products should be investigated. This book focuses on research efforts in this direction, investigating new processes with higher efficiencies and better economic returns than current commercial processes. The abundance and lower cost of light alkanes have generated extraordinary interest in oxidative catalytic conversion of alkanes to olefins, oxygenates or nitriles in the petroleum and petrochemical industries due to both the potential economic and environmental advantages. The direct conversion of light alkanes to commodity chemical intermediates has the potential to radically transform the chemical industry. The effectiveness of the catalyst, that is the activity for alkane conversion and the selectivity to desired products, will ultimately determine the economic attractiveness of an alkane-based chemical process.