Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of forming a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state, irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and the supported chromium catalyst with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The supported chromium catalyst can be formed by heat treating a supported chromium precursor, contacting a chromium precursor with a solid support while heat treating, or heat treating a solid support and then contacting a chromium precursor with the solid support.

Provided is a solid acid catalyst for use in oxidation of a substrate in the coexistence of oxygen and ozone (solid acid catalyst for oxygen-ozone-coexisting oxidation). The solid acid catalyst enables oxidation of the substrate with a high conversion. This solid acid catalyst for oxygen-ozone-coexisting oxidation is a solid acid catalyst for use in an oxidation reaction to oxidize a substrate (A) in the coexistence of oxygen and ozone. The solid acid catalyst includes a transition metal in the form of an elementary substance, a compound, or an ion, and a support supporting the transition metal. The support includes, at least in its surface, a strong acid or super strong acid having a Hammett acidity function (H.sub.0) of −9 or less. The support is preferably a pellet or particle made of a fluorinated sulfonic acid resin, or a support including a solid and a layer of a fluorinated sulfonic acid resin disposed on the solid.

A catalyst with a core-shell structure for methane oxidation, a method of preparing the catalyst, and a method of methane oxidation using the catalyst are disclosed. The catalyst includes a core structure consisting of a nano-support and core nanoparticles; and a shell coating layer coated on the core structure in which the core nanoparticles have a particle diameter smaller than that of the nano-support and are coated on the nano-support to form a core structure. The catalyst has excellent thermal stability during methane oxidation reaction at high temperature and an effect of increasing methane conversion and formaldehyde selectivity.

A catalyst with a core-shell structure for methane oxidation, a method of preparing the catalyst, and a method of methane oxidation using the catalyst are disclosed. The catalyst includes a core structure consisting of a nano-support and core nanoparticles; and a shell coating layer coated on the core structure in which the core nanoparticles have a particle diameter smaller than that of the nano-support and are coated on the nano-support to form a core structure. The catalyst has excellent thermal stability during methane oxidation reaction at high temperature and an effect of increasing methane conversion and formaldehyde selectivity.

A catalyst with a core-shell structure for methane oxidation, a method of preparing the catalyst, and a method of methane oxidation using the catalyst are disclosed. The catalyst includes a core structure consisting of a nano-support and core nanoparticles; and a shell coating layer coated on the core structure in which the core nanoparticles have a particle diameter smaller than that of the nano-support and are coated on the nano-support to form a core structure. The catalyst has excellent thermal stability during methane oxidation reaction at high temperature and an effect of increasing methane conversion and formaldehyde selectivity.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

A hydrocarbon compound and carbon monoxide are reacted in the presence of either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation and/or exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere, followed by removing a reaction product containing an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound from the respective chromium catalyst. Often, the reaction product contains one or more ketone and/or aldehyde compounds.