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HOMOGENEOUS AIR OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS UTILIZING MN AND CO CATALYSTS
Citation:
Gonzalez*, M A. AND T Becker**. HOMOGENEOUS AIR OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS UTILIZING MN AND CO CATALYSTS. Presented at 226th National ACS Meeting, New York, NY, September 07 - 11, 2003.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
Homogeneous Air Oxidation of Hydrocarbons Utilizing Mn and Co Catalysts
Thomas M. Becker and Michael A. Gonzalez*, Sustainable Technology Division, Office of Research and Development; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Mail Stop 466, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
becker.thomas@epa.gov
gonzalez.michael@epa.gov
The development of green processes for the industrially important oxidation of hydrocarbons is an ongoing research goal at the US EPA. Creating a system to eliminate or reduce unwanted products and wastes, while increasing yields and selectivity to the desired oxygenates is one objective. However, other considerations such as reducing energy use (lower temperatures and pressures), catalyst synthesis, and using environmentally friendly oxidants (O2 or H2O2) must be addressed.
Here we present our findings of air oxidations of hydrocarbons using manganese and cobalt catalysts. These catalysts containing dimethylphenanthroline ligands have been specifically designed for these oxidations. The emphasis of our study has focused on the conversion of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. This difficult oxidation (with typical industrial yields of 4-6%) is a good model system for alkane oxidations. Optimization of reaction parameters for homogeneous hydrocarbon oxidations, using the green oxidant air, and our catalysts will be discussed.