Oxidation of hydrocarbons by hydrogen peroxide over Ti catalysts: Kinetics and mechanistic studies

Abstract

Abstract n ‐hexane conversion to hexanols and hexanones as well as the conversion of 2‐ and 3‐hexanol to 2‐ and 3‐ hexanone, by reaction with aqueous hydrogen peroxide on titanium silicalite were the objects of kinetic investigations. The choice of these reactions is justified on the basis of an analysis of literature dealing with partial oxidation reactions performed on Ti sites in silica environments. The kinetic analysis based on equations derived using the mathematical theory of linear graphs allows several conclusions on the nature of surface intermediates and on the reaction mechanism. These conclusions are discussed in terms of the partial oxidation of organic materials by hydrogen peroxide over Ti catalysts. This review paper relies mostly on work by the authors and it intends to make an integrated presentation of the kinetics of some critically significant catalytic oxidation reactions. The content was the subject of a plenary lecture at the 5 th symposium of the Romanian Catalysis Society.