California Institute of Technology

Michigan Technological University

Joseph Holles

Mark E Davis

Axel Brait

Jay A Labinger

Christopher J Dillon

A process for converting lactose into carbon dioxide and/or carbon monoxide using catalytic wet oxidation. Oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of lactose are fed to a reactor comprising a Pt/AlOcatalyst, a Mn/Ce catalyst or a Pt/Mn&#x2014;Ce catalyst, and the lactose is oxidized in the reactor at elevated temperature and pressure to produce at least one of small organic acids, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water and combinations thereof. The small organic acids may be further degraded by feeding the small organic acids and oxygen gas into a reactor containing a Mn/Ce catalyst and oxidizing the small organic acids to water and at least one of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and combinations thereof.

Catalytic wet oxidation of lactose

An active and selective hydrocarbon partial oxidation catalyst comprises an activated partially-reduced polyoxometallate, preferably niobium polyoxomolybdate, that is prepared from a suitable polyoxoanion, which has been exchanged with a suitable cation and activated by heating to an activation effective temperature in the presence of a suitable reducing agent such as pyridinium. Cand Chydrocarbons may be partially oxidized selectively to acrylic acid and maleic acid.

Growing community of inventors

Houghton, MI, United States of America

Joseph Holles