Abstract: A process for the complete or partial oxidation of hydrocarbons comprises contacting a C1-C8 hydrocarbon and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions suitable to convert the C1-C8 hydrocarbon to at least one corresponding C1-C8 oxygenate product, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst provides confinement and contains both Brønsted-Lowry and Lewis acid centers. Examples include zeolites modified with selected metals or metal oxides. Including copper, either in the catalyst, in a second catalyst of similar description, or as a homogeneous salt, increases both selectivity and activity of the process, particularly where an iron-containing catalyst is used.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 2, 2011
Publication date:
December 5, 2013
Applicant:
University College Cardiff Consulltants Limited
Inventors:
Graham John Hutchings, Jose Antonio Lopez-Sanchez, Ceri Hammond, Nikolaos Dimitratos, Nicholas Fracois Dummer