Sustainable process for adipic acid production from cyclohexene in microemulsion

•adipic acid synthesis from cyclohexene and hydrogen peroxide in microemulsion is investigated.•stearyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride is used as surfactant.•reaction carried out without organic ligand and without phase transfer catalyst.•non-polluting catalyst sodium tungstate, which contains no heavy metal, is used.•by recycling the catalyst and the surfactant, the process becomes truly green.