Process to convert alkanes into primary alcohols

Abstract

This invention provides a process to convert alkanes to primary alcohols of the same carbon number. Carbon numbers of particular interest are Cto C. The process comprises the steps of: a) halogenating a linear or branched (or mixture of linear and branched) alkane to produce a mixture of primary mono-haloalkanes, internal mono-haloalkanes, unreacted alkanes, hydrogen halide, and possibly multi-haloalkanes in the presence of a catalyst and/or by heating the reaction mixture; 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 in a reactor with a metal oxide or combination of metal oxides and water to convert the aforesaid primary mono-haloalkane to 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 Cl) 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.