Oxidation of n-hexadecane with uranyl loaded/anchored microporous zeolites and ozone

The selective oxidation of higher n-alkanes at moderate temperature and pressure conditions is challenging. The scope of microporous molecular sieve materials as catalysts in the ozone initiated functionalisation of higher n-alkanes is investigated at 20 ± 1 °C and ∼1 atm. In the ozone initiated oxidation of the higher hydrocarbons hexadecane, tetradecane or dodecane with uranyl loaded silica or zeolite-Y (Na-Y) or ZSM-5 catalysts lead to the keto-isomers as main products, where oxygen is introduced into carbonaceous site of the product molecule, and small amounts of organic acids were produced. This paper emphasises the effect of microporous catalysts, the conversion, reaction products, yields and selectivity on ozonation of higher alkanes (e.g. hexadecane). A plausible mechanism for the ozonation of higher alkanes with new heterogeneous uranyl anchored zeolite catalysts is proposed. Using uranyl anchored/loaded microporous zeolite catalysts and ozone as oxidant higher normal alkanes are successfully oxidized to ketones, but with the moderate/reasonable selectivity.