Patent GB-403954-A (GB)
Title: Process for the photochemical oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds
IPC: B01J19/12
Filed: 1932-07-21
Abstract: The photochemical oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds by irradiation in presence of oxygen and under the action of a catalyst is effected with the use as catalysts of (a) hydrocarbons with a ring system containing at least three condensed nuclei, e.g. anthracene, dianthracene or paranthracene, (b) nuclear substituted derivatives of such hydrocarbons, (c) nuclear hydrogenated derivatives of such hydrocarbons, (d) nuclear substituted derivatives of such hydrogenated hydrocarbons, (e) nuclear hydrogenated derivatives of anthraquinone, e.g. dihydroanthraquinone or tetrahydroanthraquinone, or of substances of the anthraquinone type or their nuclear substitution products, e.g. tetrahydroanthraquinone sulphonic acid, (f) substances of quinonoid type with a ring system containing at least three condensed hydrocarbon nuclei and which are of a lower stage of oxidation at one or more of the quinonoid atoms than corresponds to anthraquinone or substances of the anthraquinone type, or (g) substances which are convertible by oxidation into substances of the anthraquinone type or into substances representing the lower stages of oxidation of substances of the anthraquinone type.  As substances of the anthraquinone type are specified 1 : 2-benzanthraquinone, indanthrone, flavanthrone and pyranthrone and as substances representing lower stages of oxidation of anthraquinone are specified anthrone and oxanthrone.  The catalysts are advantageously employed in conjunction with other catalysts such as adsorption catalysts, e.g. carbon or silica gel, or metal compounds, e.g. inorganic or organic salts of copper, bismuth, iron, vanadium or silver, or alkaline reaction accelerators, e.g. soda or potash lye or milk of lime.  The following examples are specified.  (1) Toluene, saturated with anthracene as catalyst, is floated on soda lye and exposed to light at room temperature in an atmosphere of oxygen to produce benzoic acid.  (2) Ethyl alcohol, saturated with a -anthronesulphonic acid as catalyst, is similarly exposed to produce acetaldehyde.  (3) Fermentation amyl alcohol, saturated with anthracene dihydride as catalyst, is floated on soda lye and similarly exposed to produce isovaleric acid.  (4) Petroleum, saturated with anthrone and dianthrone as catalysts, is floated on a solution of sodium carbonate and similarly exposed to produce a mixture of fatty soaps.  Specification 354,096 is referred to.ALSO:The photochemical oxidation of organic or inorganic compounds by irradiation in presence of oxygen and under the action of a catalyst is effected with the use as catalysts of (a) hydrocarbons with a ring system containing at least three condensed nuclei, e.g. anthracene, dianthracene or paranthracene, (b) nuclear substituted derivatives of such hydrocarbons, (c) nuclear hydrogenated derivatives of such hydrocarbons, (d) nuclear substituted derivatives of such hydrogenated hydrocarbons, (e) nuclear hydrogenated derivatives of anthraquinone, e.g. dihydroanthraquinone or tetrahydroanthraquinone, or of substances of the anthraquinone type or their nuclear substitution products, e.g. tetrahydroanthraquinonesulphonic acid, (f) substances of quinonoid type with a ring system containing at least three condensed hydrocarbon nuclei and which are of a lower stage of oxidation at one or more of the quinonoid atoms than corresponds to anthraquinone or substances of the anthraquinone type, or (g) substances which are convertible by oxidation into substances of the anthraquinone type or into substances representing the lower stages of oxidation of substances of the anthraquinone type.  As substances of the anthraquinone type are specified 1 : 2-benzanthraquinone, indanthrone, flavanthrone and pyranthrone and as substances representing lower stages of oxidation of anthraquinone are specified anthrone and oxanthrone. The catalysts are advantageously employed in conjunction with other catalysts such as adsorption catalysts, e.g. carbon or silica gel, or metal compounds, e.g. inorganic or organic salts of copper, bismuth, iron, vanadium or silver, or alkaline reaction accelerators, e.g. soda or potash lye or milk of lime.  The following examples are specified.  (1) Toluene, saturated with anthracene as catalyst, is floated on soda lye and exposed to light at room temperature in an atmosphere of oxygen to produce benzoic acid.  (2) Ethyl alcohol, saturated with a -anthronesulphonic acid as catalyst, is similarly exposed to produce acetaldehyde.  (3) Fermentation amyl alcohol, saturated with anthracene dihydride as catalyst, is floated on soda lye and similarly exposed to produce isovaleric acid.  (4) Petroleum, saturated with anthrone and dianthrone as catalysts, is floated on a solution of sodium carbonate and similarly exposed to produce a mixture of fatty soaps. Specification 354,096 is referred to.