Agency of Industrial Science and Technology

Ministry of International Trade & Industry

Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.

Other

Agency of Industrial Science and Technology Ministry of International

Research Development Corporation

Ministry of International Trade

Masatake Haruta

Susumu Tsubota

Tetsuhiko Kobayashi

Toshio Hayashi

Masahiro Wada

Masanori Ando

Kohei Kadono

Atsushi Ueda

Masaru Miya

Yoshiko Nakahara

Toru Sakaguchi

Hirosi Sano

Hiroaki Sakurai

Hiroshi Sano

Yuri Angelov Kalvachev

Tomizo Nakamura

Koji Tanaka

Mitsutaka Okumura

This invention provides a catalyst for partial oxidation of unsaturated hydrocarbon, characterized in that the catalyst comprises finely divided gold particles immobilized on a titanium-containing oxide and is one subjected to a silylating treatment or a hydrophobilizing treatment. The catalyst of the invention shows little deactivation with time in a reaction for preparing an epoxide from unsaturated hydrocarbon, and can stably retain a high selectivity, a high activity and like excellent catalytic capability for a long term.

Catalyst for partially oxidizing unsaturated hydrocarbon

The invention provides a catalyst for partial oxidation of hydrocarbon in the presence of a reducing compound, the catalyst comprising ultra-fine gold particles immobilized on a titanium-containing oxide, and a process for preparing an oxygen-containing organic compound, the process comprising the step of oxidizing hydrocarbon with oxygen in the presence of the above catalyst and a reducing compound.

Process for the partial oxidation of hydrocarbon and process for

A partially-oxidizing catalyst for hydrocarbon contains gold, titanium oxide and a carrier whose specific surface area is not less than 50 m.sup.2 /g. The carrier is preferably made from silicon oxide and/or aluminum oxide. The content of gold in the catalyst is preferably set in the range of 0.005 to 5% by weight. Further, another partially-oxidizing catalyst for a hydrocarbon contains gold, a titanium-containing metal oxide, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal, an alkaline-earth metal and thallium. With these compositions, it becomes possible to provide a partially-oxidizing catalyst for a hydrocarbon having superior activity and selectivity in partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon in the presence of hydrogen and oxygen. Moreover, a partially-oxidizing method for a hydrocarbon is used for partially oxidizing the hydrocarbon by using any of the above-mentioned partially-oxidizing catalysts in the presence of hydrogen and oxygen. This method makes it possible to manufacture an epoxide from a hydrocarbon of the olefin family and also to manufacture an alcohol and/or a ketone from a saturated hydrocarbon, with high selectivity and high conversion.

Catalysts for partial oxidation of hydrocarbons and method of partial

The method of manufacturing an epoxide according to the present invention includes: a dehydrogenation step 1, in which a gas A containing an alkane is dehydrogenated, producing a gas B which contains an alkene and hydrogen; an epoxidation step 2, in which the gas B is epoxidized by use of a gas C containing oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing gold, producing a gas D which contains an epoxide and unreacted hydrogen and oxygen; a separation step 3, in which the epoxide is separated from the gas D, leaving a gas E; and an oxygen elimination step 4, in which oxygen and hydrogen contained in the gas E are allowed to react, eliminating the oxygen and leaving a gas F. At least part of the gas F (gas F.sub.1) is recycled by returning it to the dehydrogenation step 1. Hydrogen produced in the dehydrogenation step 1 is consumed in the epoxidation step 2 and the oxygen elimination step 4, and thus does not build up in the system of reaction. Accordingly, it is not necessary to separate or eliminate the hydrogen from the system of reaction. In other words, a method can be provided which is industrially advantageous for continuously producing an epoxide from an alkane.

Method of manufacturing epoxide

A humidity detection material includes oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu. The metal oxide is preferably in the form of a porous material. The metal oxide is formed preferably in the form of a thin film on a transparent substrate. The humidity detection material is contacted with water vapor in the presence of a gas such as air, and the optical absorbance of the humidity detection material is measured to detect the humidity. The humidity can be detected by an optical method.

Humidity detection method

There are provided a third-order nonlinear optical material comprising a film formed on the surface of a transparent substrate and consisting essentially of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu; and a third-order nonlinear optical material of the type as described above wherein the film additionally contains a metal selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag and Cu in the form of particles dispersed therein and having a particle size of at most 500 nm. The present invention also provides a process for producing a third-order nonlinear optical material by dispersing and depositing in a transparent matrix an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu in the form of particles having a particle size of at most 500 nm; a process of the type as described above wherein a metal selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag and Cu in the form of particles having a particle size of at most 500 nm is simultaneously dispersed and deposited in a transparent matrix. The present invention further provides third-order nonlinear optical materials produced according to the process of the present invention.

Nonlinear optical materials and process for producing the same

A material having ultrafine gold particles immobilized thereon consists essentially of at least one support selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal sulfides, and carbonaceous substances and ultrafine gold particles having a maximum particle diameter of 250 angstroms and deposited on the support with strong interaction. The material exhibits high activity as a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. It is produced by causing a vaporized organic gold complex to contact at least one support selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal sulfides, and carbonaceous substances in an atmosphere of reduced pressure thereby inducing adsorption of the vapor of organic gold complex on the support and then heating the product of the adsorption to a temperature in the range of 100.degree.-700.degree. C.

Material having ultrafine gold particles immobilized thereon and method

There are provided a third-order nonlinear optical material comprising a film formed on the surface of a transparent substrate and consisting essentially of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu; and a third-order nonlinear optical material of the type as described above wherein the film additionally contains a metal selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag and Cu in the form of particles dispersed therein and having a particle size of at most 500 nm.

An alcohol or a ketone or a mixture thereof is produced from a saturated hydrocarbon or an epoxide is produced from an unsaturated hydrocarbon by passing a mixture comprising of molecular hydrogen, the saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon and oxygen through a bed of a catalyst comprising a titanium dioxide carrier and ultrafine gold particles deposited on the carrier, thereby effecting the oxidation of the hydrocarbon with oxygen.

Method for production of alcohol, ketone, and epoxide by oxidation of

A catalyst for the hydrogenation of CO and CO.sub.2 consists essentially of a metal oxide and gold. Synthesis of methanol and hydrocarbons by hydrogenation of CO and CO.sub.2 comprises establishing contact between a gaseous mass consisting of CO, CO.sub.2, and hydrogen and a catalyst consisting essentially of a metal oxide and gold.

Catalyst for hydrogenation and method for hydrogenation therewith

An ultra-fine gold particle-immobilized oxide is produced by a method which comprises adding an alkali compound to an aqueous solution containing a gold compound and a water-soluble metal salt thereby giving rise to a coprecipitate in the aqueous solution, separating the coprecipitate from the aqueous solution, and calcining the separated coprecipitate. This method is characterized by allowing the presence of a carboxylic acid or a carboxylate in the aqueous solution from the beginning or after the occurrence of the coprecipitate.

Method for production of ultra-fine gold particle-immobilized oxides

An ultra-fine gold particle-immobilized alkaline earth metal compound having ultra-fine gold particles immobilized on an alkaline earth metal compound is useful as a catalyst or as an inflammable gas sensor. This compound is produced by (1) adding an aqueous solution of a gold compound dropwise to an aqueous solution containing an alkaline earth metal compound and having a pH value kept in the range of 7 to 11 thereby inducing immobilization of gold hydroxide on the compound, separating from the solution the gold hydroxide-immobilized compound, and calcining the separated compound at a temperature in the range of 80.degree. to 800.degree. C., (2) by adding a reducing agent to an aqueous solution of an alkaline earth metal having a gold compound dissolved therein, (3) by adding carbon dioxide gas or an acidic aqueous solution to an aqueous solution containing a gold compound and an alkaline earth metal compound thereby inducing immobilization of gold hydroxide on the alkaline earth metal compound, separating from the solution the gold hydroxide-immobilized compound, and calcining the separated compound at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 800.degree. C., or (4) by coprecipitating a gold compound and an alkaline earth metal and calcining the coprecipitate at a temperature in the range of 80.degree. to 800.degree. C.

Ultra-fine gold particle-immobilized alkaline earth metal compounds and

A composite having ultra-fine gold particles uniformly and strongly immobilized in a deposited state on a metal oxide is obtained by preparing a solution containing the metal oxide as a carrier and a gold compound, adjusting the pH value of the solution to a specific level thereby inducing precipitation and deposition of gold hydroxide or gold on the carrier and, when the precipitate is in the form of gold hydroxide, further, firing the precipitate. The ultra-fine gold particles immobilized on metal oxides are useful as a catalyst for reduction and oxidation, in sensor elements for flammable gases, and as an electrode catalyst.

Method for the production of ultra-fine gold particles immobilized on a

A catalyst composite having gold or a mixture of gold with a catalytic metal oxide deposited on a carrier is produced by immersing a carrier in an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble salt of gold or water-soluble salts respectively of gold and other catalytic metal and urea and/or acetamide thereby allowing a precipitate to be deposited on the carrier and then firing the carrier holding the deposited precipitate thereon.

Growing community of inventors

Ikeda, Japan

Masatake Haruta