Transition metal-catalyzed production of alcohol and carbonyl compounds from hydrocarbons
Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalyst—containing molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadium—are irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum, optionally in an oxidizing atmosphere, to form a reduced transition metal catalyst, followed by hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.
1. A process for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound, the process comprising:
(i) irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalyst comprising molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, or a combination thereof, with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported transition metal catalyst to form a reduced transition metal catalyst; and
(ii) hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (i) comprises irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported transition metal catalyst in an oxidizing atmosphere.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reactant comprises a C 1 to C 36 linear, branched, or cyclic alkane compound.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon reactant comprises a C 2 to C 36 olefin compound, a C 6 to C 36 aromatic compound, or any combination thereof.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the supported transition metal catalyst contains from 0.01 to 50 wt. % of molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, or a combination thereof, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein:
the supported transition metal catalyst comprises a solid oxide, a chemically-treated solid oxide, a zeolite, or a combination thereof;
the supported transition metal catalyst has a pore volume from 0.1 to 5 mL/g and a BET surface area from 50 to 2000 m 2 /g; and
the irradiating step is conducted at a temperature from −100° C. to 100° C.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein;
the light beam is from a blue light source or a UV light source;
the light beam comprises wavelengths above 350 nm and below 500 nm;
the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported transition metal catalyst are irradiated with an illuminance of at least 5000 lux; or
any combination thereof.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the process comprises:
contacting the hydrocarbon reactant with a fluidized bed of the supported transition metal catalyst, and irradiating while contacting; or
contacting the hydrocarbon reactant with a fixed bed of the supported transition metal catalyst, and irradiating while contacting.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein:
hydrolyzing is conducted at a temperature from 0° C. to 100° C.; and
hydrolyzing comprises contacting the reduced transition metal catalyst with a hydrolysis agent comprising water, steam, an alcohol agent, an acid agent, an alkaline agent, or any combination thereof.
10. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of separating at least a portion of the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound from the reaction product after step (ii).
11. The process of claim 1 , further comprising a step of separating at least a portion of the hydrocarbon reactant from the reaction product after step (ii), and wherein the at least a portion of the hydrocarbon reactant is recycled and irradiated with the supported transition metal catalyst again.
12. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:
separating at least a portion of the reduced transition metal catalyst from the reaction product after step (ii); and
calcining the at least a portion of the reduced transition metal catalyst to regenerate the supported transition metal catalyst.
13. The process of claim 1 , wherein:
a conversion of the hydrocarbon reactant is at least 10 wt. %; and/or
a molar yield of the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound is from 0.01 to 5 moles of the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound per mole of transition metal in the supported transition metal catalyst.
14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the supported transition metal catalyst comprises vanadium.
15. A process for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound, the process comprising:
(I) irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported transition metal catalyst comprising molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, or a combination thereof, with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported transition metal catalyst to form a reduced transition metal catalyst;
(II) subjecting the reduced transition metal catalyst to an oxidizing atmosphere; and
(III) hydrolyzing the reduced transition metal catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein;
the light beam is from a blue light source or a UV light source;
the light beam comprises wavelengths above 350 nm and below 500 nm;
the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported transition metal catalyst are irradiated with an illuminance of at least 5000 lux; or
any combination thereof.
17. The process of claim 15 , wherein:
a conversion of the hydrocarbon reactant is at least 10 wt. %; and/or
a molar yield of the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound is from 0.01 to 5 moles of the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound per mole of transition metal in the supported transition metal catalyst.