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 supported transition metal catalyst comprising:
a silica-coated alumina having a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:5 to 5:1; and
from 0.01 to 50 wt. % of a transition metal comprising molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, or a combination thereof, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
2. The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein:
the supported transition metal catalyst comprises from 0.2 to 10 wt. % of the transition metal, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
3. The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein the supported transition metal catalyst comprises from 0.1 to 15 wt. % of the transition metal, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
4. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1:3 to 3:1.
5. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the transition metal comprises molybdenum.
6. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the transition metal comprises tungsten.
7. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the transition metal comprises vanadium.
8. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1:1 to 3:1.
9. The catalyst of claim 8 , wherein the transition metal comprises molybdenum.
10. The catalyst of claim 8 , wherein the transition metal comprises tungsten.
11. The catalyst of claim 8 , wherein the transition metal comprises vanadium.
12. The catalyst of claim 3 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1.2:1 to 1.8:1.
13. A supported transition metal catalyst comprising:
a silica-coated alumina; and
from 0.01 to 50 wt. % of a transition metal comprising vanadium, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
14. The catalyst of claim 13 , wherein the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:5 to 5:1.
15. The catalyst of claim 13 , wherein the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:3 to 3:1.
16. The catalyst of claim 13 , wherein the supported transition metal catalyst comprises from 0.2 to 10 wt. % of the transition metal, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst.
17. The catalyst of claim 16 , wherein the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:5 to 5:1.
18. The catalyst of claim 16 , wherein the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:1 to 3:1.
19. The catalyst of claim 16 , wherein the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1.2:1 to 1.8:1.
20. The catalyst of claim 13 , wherein:
the supported transition metal catalyst comprises from 0.1 to 5 wt. % of the transition metal, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst; and
the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:5 to 5:1.
21. The catalyst of claim 20 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1:3 to 3:1.
22. The catalyst of claim 13 , wherein:
the supported transition metal catalyst comprises from 0.5 to 2.5 wt. % of the transition metal, based on the weight of the supported transition metal catalyst; and
the silica-coated alumina has a weight ratio of alumina to silica from 1:5 to 5:1.
23. The catalyst of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1:1 to 3:1.
24. The catalyst of claim 22 , wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 1.2:1 to 1.8:1.