PROCESS TO CONVERT ALKANES INTO PRIMARY ALCOHOLS

摘要

This invention provides a process to convert alkanes to primary alcohols of the same carbon number. The process comprises the steps of: a) halogenating linear alkanes, branched alkanes, or a mixture of linear and branched alkane to produce a mixture containing primary mono-haloalkanes and hydrogen halide; b) separating the hydrogen halide from the mixture and optionally neutralizing it with a metal oxide to produce a partially halogenated metal oxide and/or metal halide which may be regenerated; c) separating the primary mono-haloalkanes from the mixture; d) reacting the separated primary mono-haloalkanes with a metal oxide to produce a mixture of products that contains primary alcohols, unconverted primary mono-haloalkanes, and possibly other reaction products, and a partially halogenated metal oxide and/or metal halide which may be regenerated; e) regenerating the partially halogenated metal oxide and/or metal halide to halogen (such as Cl2) and/or acid and a metal oxide for recycle by reaction with air or oxygen; and f) removing the unreacted primary mono-haloalkane from the reaction mixture and then purifying the primary alcohol.