The present invention generally relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for oxidation of an alkane (e.g., methane) into an alcohol (e.g., methanol) in the presence of a catalyst.

Provided is an oxidation reactor capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons with both good reaction efficiency and good energy efficiency. This oxidation reactor includes a liquid inlet channel, a gas inlet channel, a gas-liquid mixing unit, and a flow reactor. Through the liquid inlet channel, a liquid containing a reaction substrate hydrocarbon is introduced. Through the gas inlet channel, a gas containing oxygen and ozone is introduced. The gas-liquid mixing unit mixes the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet channel with the gas introduced from the gas inlet channel. In the flow reactor, an oxidation catalyst is immobilized or packed. In the oxidation reactor, the flow reactor includes a monolith support and the oxidation catalyst immobilized to or packed in the monolith support. In addition or alternatively, the gas-liquid mixing unit includes a microbubble generator.

Provided is an oxidation reactor capable of oxidizing hydrocarbons with both good reaction efficiency and good energy efficiency. This oxidation reactor includes a liquid inlet channel, a gas inlet channel, a gas-liquid mixing unit, and a flow reactor. Through the liquid inlet channel, a liquid containing a reaction substrate hydrocarbon is introduced. Through the gas inlet channel, a gas containing oxygen and ozone is introduced. The gas-liquid mixing unit mixes the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet channel with the gas introduced from the gas inlet channel. In the flow reactor, an oxidation catalyst is immobilized or packed. In the oxidation reactor, the flow reactor includes a monolith support and the oxidation catalyst immobilized to or packed in the monolith support. In addition or alternatively, the gas-liquid mixing unit includes a microbubble generator.

The subject invention provides synthetic compounds, and compound complexes having catalytic activities towards oxidation or oxygenation, and/or dehydrogenation of various substrates comprising C—H bonds. The catalysts of the subject invention comprise a dinuclear Cu(I)/Cu(II) center that can convert between a resting state and a reactive species. The subject invention also provides methods of using such catalysts for the oxidation of substrates comprising C—H bonds, e.g., hydrocarbons, to synthesize chemicals for use as pharmaceuticals and industrial feedstock.

The subject invention provides synthetic compounds, and compound complexes having catalytic activities towards oxidation or oxygenation, and/or dehydrogenation of various substrates comprising C—H bonds. The catalysts of the subject invention comprise a dinuclear Cu(I)/Cu(II) center that can convert between a resting state and a reactive species. The subject invention also provides methods of using such catalysts for the oxidation of substrates comprising C—H bonds, e.g., hydrocarbons, to synthesize chemicals for use as pharmaceuticals and industrial feedstock.

Disclosed are gas-phase ODH and OCP processes for converting alkanes (e.g., C.sub.2H.sub.6 and C.sub.3H.sub.8) to alkenes (e.g., C.sub.2H.sub.4 and C.sub.3H.sub.6) or oxygenates (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, or propylene oxide) or converting alkenes (e.g., ethylene and propene) and oxygenates (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or propylene oxide) to longer carbon-chain alkenes or longer carbon-chain alkanes with or without solid catalysts.

Disclosed are gas-phase ODH and OCP processes for converting alkanes (e.g., C.sub.2H.sub.6 and C.sub.3H.sub.8) to alkenes (e.g., C.sub.2H.sub.4 and C.sub.3H.sub.6) or oxygenates (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, or propylene oxide) or converting alkenes (e.g., ethylene and propene) and oxygenates (e.g., methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or propylene oxide) to longer carbon-chain alkenes or longer carbon-chain alkanes with or without solid catalysts.

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.

The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst for production of methanol from methane, wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite having Al pairs in the skeleton of at least 10 percent, based on the total number of all aluminium atoms in the zeolite, and further comprising a transition metal cation coordinated at beta-cationic positions, selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni, wherein the ratio of the transition metal to Al is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5; and with the proviso that the zeolite is not ZSM-5 and mordenite. The present invention further relates to the method of production of methanol, the catalyst for production of methanol by direct oxidation of methane, and to a method of production thereof.