| CPC C25B 3/07 (2021.01) [C25B 3/23 (2021.01); C25B 11/061 (2021.01); C25B 11/065 (2021.01); C25B 11/077 (2021.01); C25B 11/081 (2021.01); C25B 15/027 (2021.01)] | 27 Claims |
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1. A method for the preparation of oxygenated hydrocarbon products from a hydrocarbon under electrochemical reducing conditions, comprising the step of (a) contacting a hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen and with a polyoxometalate catalyst of the general formula (1):
Qi[XjMkCulWmOn]
or a solvate thereof;
wherein:
i is between 0-50;
j is between 0-4;
k is 0;
1 is between 1-5;
m is between 10-20;
n is between 50-100;
each of Q is independently selected from alkali metal cation, alkaline earth metal cation, transition metal cation, NH4+ and H+;
each of X is independently P, As, Si, B or Al;
each of M is independently Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Re, Os, Ir or Pt;
wherein said contacting step (a) is conducted in an electrochemical cell, said electrochemical cell comprises a cathode, an anode and the polyoxometalate catalyst and wherein a voltage is applied to said cell, thereby generating oxygenated hydrocarbon products;
wherein in step (a) one or more of the Cu atoms in the polyoxometalate catalyst is reduced by applied electrochemical reducing conditions to form reduced Cu atoms;
subsequent contact of the polyoxometalate catalyst with the reduced Cu atoms, with the molecular oxygen and the hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon oxygenates to obtain the oxygenated hydrocarbon products; and following the oxygenation of the hydrocarbons, the reduced Cu atoms in the polyoxometalate catalyst are reoxidized to their original oxidation state.
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