Selectivity of Partial Hydrocarbon Oxidation

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Abstract
This review of the selectivity of catalysts in the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons principally embraces those papers published from 1977 to 1982. Partial oxidation is shown to occur by the redox mechanism involving the structural oxygen of the solid oxide catalyst. The hydrocarbon molecule interacts with the oxide surface to form a relatively weakly bound allylic, or some other, dehydrogenated complex. The weakly bound hydrocarbon diffuses towards the active site where it reacts with the structural oxygen. The oxygen diffuses to the active site through the solid catalyst. The highest activity is displayed by polyphasic multicomponent catalysts, the different phases accelerating individual stages of catalysis with possible diffusion of intermediates from one phase (one group of active sites) to the other. Non-equilibrium phases can be stabilized during catalysis; and a crystallo-chemical conformity between the constituents of the complex catalyst phases is essential for stabilization.