Catalytic direct oxidation of hydrocarbons to acids
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsAyusman Sen, Minren Lin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for catalytic direct oxidation of hydrocarbons, particularly lower alkanes and single ring aromatics, to acids by dioxygen under mild temperature conditions using specified metal or metal salt catalysts. Turnovers in excess of 1000 for acetic acid formation from ethane and in excess of 100 for formic acid formation from methane have been obtained at reaction temperatures below about 100.degree. C. using palladium catalyst. A coreductant of carbon monoxide in an aqueous system is preferred.
Claims26
A process for catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of an alkane having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and a single ring aromatic compound to acid comprising contacting said hydrocarbon with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a metallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au and their salts at a temperature about 70.degree. to about 200.degree. C. to principally produce the corresponding acid in the case of said alkane and formic acid in the case of said single ring aromatic compound.
In a process for catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of an alkane having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and a single ring aromatic compound to acid, the steps comprising:
- contacting dihydrogen and dioxygen under acidic conditions producing hydrogen peroxide;
- and contacting said hydrogen peroxide and said hydrocarbon to principally produce the corresponding acid in the case of said alkane and formic acid in the case of said single ring aromatic compound;
- each of said contacting steps conducted in the presence of a metallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au and their salts at a temperature of about 70.degree. to about 200.degree. C.
A process for catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of an alkane having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and a single ring aromatic compound to the corresponding acid in the case of said alkane and formic acid in the case of said single ring aromatic compound comprising in a single reaction system:
- first contacting carbon monoxide and water under acidic conditions producing carbon dioxide and dihydrogen;
- then contacting said dihydrogen and dioxygen under acidic conditions producing hydrogen peroxide;
- and contacting said hydrogen peroxide and said hydrocarbon to produce said acid;
- each of said contacting steps performed in the presence of a metallic catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au and their salts at a temperature of about 70.degree. to about 200.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.