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 a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of irradiating the hydrocarbon reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state 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. In addition, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining all or a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

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 catalystcontaining molybdenum, tungsten, or vanadiumare 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.

Methods of preparing Pt/SrTiO.sub.3 photocatalysts comprising strontium titanate nanoparticles and platinum doped on a surface of the strontium titanate nanoparticles are described. Processes of oxidizing cycloalkanes to cycloalkanols and/or cycloalkanones by employing the Pt/SrTiO.sub.3 photocatalysts are specified. A method for recycling the photocatalyst is also provided.

Disclosed is a visible light-activated photocatalytic coating composition comprising a visible light active photocatalytic material and an aqueous solvent.

Provided is a fabrication method of a photocatalytic material in which a single layer of a carbon-based participate is formed on a surface of each of titanium dioxide particle. The method includes (a) loading titanium dioxide particles into an electric furnace comprising a mechanism for rotating a core tube; (b) heating an inside of the core tube of the electric furnace into which the titanium dioxide particles have been loaded to a temperature of not less than 400 C. and not more than 800 C., while an inert gas is introduced into the inside of the core tube; (c) supplying a hydrocarbon gas to the inside of the core tube in addition to the inert gas; and (d) performing a thermal CVD on each of the titanium dioxide particles in a fluidized state inside the core tube, while the core tube is rotated, to form a single layer of a carbon-based precipitate containing graphene on a surface of each of the titanium dioxide particles. A photocatalyst material is provided.

Methods of preparing Pt/SrTiO.sub.3 photocatalysts comprising strontium titanate nanoparticles and platinum doped on a surface of the strontium titanate nanoparticles are described. Processes of oxidizing cycloalkanes to cycloalkanols and/or cycloalkanones by employing the Pt/SrTiO.sub.3 photocatalysts are specified. A method for recycling the photocatalyst is also provided.

A composite photocatalyst, a method of producing said composite photocatalyst, a method of degrading an organic pollutant using the composite photocatalyst, and a method of producing hydrogen using the composite photocatalyst. The composite photocatalyst includes graphene, tungsten oxide, a metal boride, and a metal hydroxide. The photocatalyst is capable of degrading an organic pollutant when exposed to light. The photocatalyst is also capable of producing hydrogen from water when exposed to light under suitable conditions.

The present disclosure relates to a photocatalytic silica-based granular media for degrading organic compounds formed from a three-dimensional polymer and comprising cross-linked silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the media comprises a distribution of pore space. The present disclosure also relates to a process for producing the granular media, a method of using the granular media to degrade one or more organic compounds, and a reactor using the granular media.

Provided herein is a method of preparing a porous composite ceramic material and a porous composite ceramic material made by the method of preparing.