Cyclic catalytic upgrading of chemical species using metal oxide materials

1. A process comprising:

alternately contacting an oxygen-carrying catalyst with a reducing substance, or a lower partial pressure of an oxidizing gas, and then with said oxidizing gas or a higher partial pressure of said oxidizing gas, whereby the catalyst is alternately reduced and then regenerated to an oxygenated state,

wherein said oxygen-carrying catalyst comprises at least one metal oxide-containing material selected from the group consisting of

compounds having the formula Sr v La w B x B′ y B″ z O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe; B′=Al or Ga; B″=Cu; 0.01<v≦1.4; 0.1<w<1.6; 0.1<x<1.9; 0.01<y<0.9; 0≦z<2.2; and 3<δ<5.5; preparable by a method comprising co-precipitation; and

wherein said reducing substance, when contacted with said oxygen-carrying catalyst, is converted to at least one chemical product.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reducing substance comprises a gaseous hydrocarbon, said chemical product is synthesis gas, and said catalyst is active for catalyzing the partial oxidation of said hydrocarbon, wherein said catalyst comprises:

Sr v La w B x B′ y B z ″O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe; B′=Al or Ga; B″=Cu, 0.01<v≦1.4; 0.1<w<1.6; 0.1<x<1.9; 0.01<y<0.9; 0≦z<2.2; and 3<δ<5.5.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reducing substance comprises a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, said product comprises synthesis gas, and said catalyst is active for catalyzing the partial oxidation of said liquid hydrocarbon fuel, wherein said catalyst comprises Sr v La w B x B′ y B″ z O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe, B′=Al or Ga, B″=Cu, 0.01<v≦1.4; 0.1<w<1.6; 0.1<x<1.9; 0.01<y<0.9; 0≦z<2.2; and 3<δ<5.5.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein said oxygen-carrying catalyst comprises,

Sr 1.4 La 0.6 Co 1.6 Al 0.4 O 5 ,

Sr 0.31 La 1.43 Co 1.33 Al 0.24 O 4.81 ,

Sr 0.3 La 1.27 Co 1.74 Al 0.21 O 5.13 , or

Sr 0.02 La 0.26 Fe 1.63 Al 0.02 Cu 2.08 O 4.97 .

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reducing substance comprises a hydrocarbon, said product comprises a dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, and said catalyst is active for oxidatively dehydrogenating said hydrocarbon, wherein said catalyst comprises:

Sr v La w B x B′ y B″ z O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe, B′=Al or Ga, B″=Cu, 0.01<v≦1.4; 0.1<w<1.6; 0.1<x<1.9; 0.01<y<0.9; 0≦z<2.2; and 3<δ<5.5.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein said catalyst comprises

Sr 1.4 La 0.6 Co 1.6 Al 0.4 O 5 ,

Sr 0.31 La 1.43 Co 1.33 Al 0.24 O 4.81 , or

Sr 0.3 La 1.27 Co 1.74 Al 0.21 O 5.13 .

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reducing substance comprises a hydrocarbon, said product comprises an oxidatively functionalized hydrocarbon, and said catalyst is active for catalyzing the selective oxidation of said hydrocarbon by which at least one oxygenous function is inserted into said hydrocarbon, wherein said catalyst comprises:

Sr v La w B x B′ y B″ z O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe, B′=Al or Ga, B″=Cu, 0.01<v≦1.4, 0.1<w<1.6, 0.1<x<1.9, 0.01<y<0.9, 0≦z<2.2, and 3<δ<5.5.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein said catalyst comprises

Sr 1.4 La 0.6 Co 1.6 Al 0.4 O 5 ,

Sr 0.31 La 1.43 Co 1.33 Al 0.24 O 4.81 or

Sr 0.3 La 1.27 Co 1.74 Al 0.21 O 5.13 .

9. A process for the cyclic catalytic partial oxidation of a carbon-containing feedstock, comprising:

(a) in an oxidation stage, passing air over an oxygen-storing catalyst that is capable of capturing oxygen from said air, to produce an oxidized catalyst and producing an effluent comprising oxygen-reduced air;

(b) in a reduction stage, passing said feedstock over said oxidized catalyst to create a product gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, wherein said oxidized catalyst becomes reduced or partially reduced creating a metal or metal oxide; and

(c) repeating (a) to reoxidize the oxygen-storing catalyst, wherein said catalyst comprises at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of:

Sr v La w B x B′ y B″ z O δ , wherein B=Co or Fe; B′=Al or Ga; B″=Cu; 0.01<v≦1.4, 0.1<w<1.6, 0.1<x<1.9, 0.01<y<0.9, 0≦z<2.2, and 3<δ<5.5, preparable by a method comprising co-precipitation.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein said feedstock comprises glycerol.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one metal oxide is impregnated on a support.

12. The process of claim 9 , wherein said at least one metal oxide is impregnated on a support.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein said at least one metal oxide is prepared by a method comprising sol-gel synthesis.

14. The process of claim 9 , wherein said at least one metal oxide is prepared by a method comprising sol-gel synthesis.