正丁烷与丁烯均含有与顺酐相同的碳原子数，是顺酐的理想原料。由于正丁烷较其他原料低廉，用正丁烷更为有利。其流程与苯氧化法基本相同，催化剂为钒-磷-氧体系，添加剂有铁、铅、锌、铜、锑等元素的氧化物。可用固定床反应器或用流化床反应器，反应温度约400℃。

Both n-butane and butene contain the same number of carbon atoms as maleic anhydride, making them ideal raw materials for producing maleic anhydride. Due to the lower price of n-butane compared to other raw materials, using n-butane is more advantageous. The process is basically the same as the benzene oxidation method, with a vanadium phosphorus oxygen system as the catalyst and oxides of elements such as iron, lead, zinc, copper, and antimony as additives. A fixed bed reactor or a fluidized bed reactor can be used, with a reaction temperature of about 400 ℃.

正丁烷-空气混合物中正丁烷浓度为1.0%～1.6%(摩尔)。整个过程的顺酐收率按正丁烷计约为50%。由于C4烃氧化的选择性较低,因此设备投资较以苯为原料时为高，且后加工不能采用部分冷凝，而必须将反应气体中的顺酐全部用吸收法回收，从而使能耗加大。但由于正丁烷比苯便宜，而且苯毒性大。因此，以正丁烷为原料是有吸引力的，对本法所用催化剂的改进工作，各国都在大力进行中。

The concentration of n-butane in a mixture of n-butane and air is 1.0% to 1.6% (mol). The yield of maleic anhydride in the entire process is approximately 50% based on n-butane. Due to the low selectivity of C4 hydrocarbon oxidation, the equipment investment is higher than when benzene is used as the raw material, and partial condensation cannot be used for post-processing. Instead, all maleic anhydride in the reaction gas must be recovered by absorption method, thereby increasing energy consumption. But due to the lower price of n-butane compared to benzene and the high toxicity of benzene. Therefore, using n-butane as the raw material is attractive, and countries are vigorously working on improving the catalysts used in this method.

顺酐主要用于不饱和聚酯树脂、醇酸树脂、农药马拉硫磷、低毒农药4049、长效碘胺的原料。也是涂料、马来松香、聚马来酐、顺酐-苯乙烯共聚物的共聚单体，也是油墨助剂、造纸助剂、增塑剂、酒石酸、富马酸、四氢呋喃等的有机化工原料。

Maleic anhydride is mainly used as a raw material for the production of unsaturated polyester resin, alkyd resin, pesticide malathion, high-efficiency and low toxicity pesticide 4049, and long-acting iodoamine. It is also a comonomer of coatings, maleic rosin, polymaleic anhydride, and maleic anhydride styrene copolymers. It is also an organic chemical raw material for the production of ink additives, papermaking additives, plasticizers, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, tetrahydrofuran, and other chemicals.