A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

A method for the oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes including providing a mixture of a C.sub.1-9-alkane in a liquid phase, a boron containing reagent, a free radical initiator, and a drying means, and performing an oxidation reaction at a temperature from 130 C. to 180 C. in the presence of oxygen. The drying means may be a drying agent such as a molecular sieve, or a membrane. Also a composition for oxidation of C.sub.1-9-alkanes to sec-C.sub.1-9-alcohols.

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.

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.

An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO.sub.2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO.sub.2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO.sub.2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.

The present invention provides methods for monomer production, for example, acrylic acid, wherein the methods comprise oxidizing one or more reactant gases, for example, propylene, in a fixed bed reactor, preferably, two fixed bed reactors, in the presence of oxygen and a mixed metal oxide catalyst to form an oxidized gaseous mixture and, at any point in the oxidizing, feeding or flowing the one or more reactant gases or the oxidized gaseous mixture through an inert macroporous material that has a pore volume of from 0.2 cm3/g to 2.0 cm3/g, a surface area of from 0.01 to 0.6 m2/g, and wherein from 30 to 98 wt. % of the total pore volume in the inert macroporous material has a pore diameter of at least 100 m.

The present invention provides methods for monomer production, for example, acrylic acid, wherein the methods comprise oxidizing one or more reactant gases, for example, propylene, in a fixed bed reactor, preferably, two fixed bed reactors, in the presence of oxygen and a mixed metal oxide catalyst to form an oxidized gaseous mixture and, at any point in the oxidizing, feeding or flowing the one or more reactant gases or the oxidized gaseous mixture through an inert macroporous material that has a pore volume of from 0.2 cm3/g to 2.0 cm3/g, a surface area of from 0.01 to 0.6 m2/g, and wherein from 30 to 98 wt. % of the total pore volume in the inert macroporous material has a pore diameter of at least 100 m.

A system and method for oxidizing methane can include an environmentally friendly catalyst material that converts methane to an oxidized product at low temperatures and concentrations, for example, under 350? C. at concentrations less than 40% methane, including less than 5% methane.