PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATIONS OF A MIXTURE OF ALCOHOLS AND KETONES

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a mixture of alcohols and ketones by the liquid phase oxidation of isoalkanes to alkyl hydroperoxides with simultaneous transfer of oxygen to alkanes (C8-C20) in presence of oxides alkaline earth metals like magnesium, calcium, barium and strontium and oxides of rare earth metals such as lanthanum, cerium, samarium, neodymium and europium, at a temperature ranging between 110 °-160° C. and air pressure ranging between 10-1500 psig for a period of 0.5-20 h, cooling the reaction mixture to 5° C., separating the products by conventional methods such as distillation. The catalyst reused for several times without affecting its catalytic performance.

Description

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a mixture of alcohols and ketones, which comprises reacting a mixture of alkane and isoalkane with air or oxygen, optionally in the presence of heterogeneous catalyst for liquid phase oxidation of isoalkane (C4 and C5) to alkyl hydroperoxides with simultaneous transfer of oxygen to alkanes (C8-C20), at a temperature ranging between 110°-160° C. and air pressure ranging between 100-1500 psig, for a period of 0.5-20 hrs, cooling the above said reaction mixture to a temperature of about 5° C. and separating the desired products by known methods.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst used is selected from oxides of alkaline earth metals and oxides of rare earth metals.

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the oxide of alkaline earth metal used selected from the oxides of magnesium, calcium, barium, and strontium.

4. A process according to claim 2, wherein the oxide of rare earth metal used selected from the oxides of lanthanum, cerium, samarium, neodymium and europium.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mole ratio of linear alkane to heterogeneous catalyst used is in the range of 0.5-100.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mole ratio of alkane to isoalkane used is in the range of 0.05-50.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein the isoalkane used is selected from isobutane and isopentane.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein n and isoalkanes used in the mixture of n-alkane and isoalkanes are having the same carbon number.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen used is either pure oxygen or a mixture of 1-20% oxygen in nitrogen.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in the absence or presence of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide as an initiator.

11. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in a semi-continuous way by dosing of the isoalkanes.

12. A process according to claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out in a continuous reactor, with catalyst in a fixed bed.

13. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst used is reusable for several times for further reactions.