Patent ID: 8884054

Claim:
A process for oxidizing an alkyl-aromatic compound comprising: forming a first mixture comprising the alkyl-aromatic compound, a solvent, a bromine source, and a catalyst; contacting the first mixture with an oxidizing agent at oxidizing conditions to produce a solid oxidation product comprising at least one of an aromatic aldehyde, an aromatic alcohol, an aromatic ketone, and an aromatic carboxylic acid; wherein the solvent comprises a carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms and an ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of an imidazolium ionic liquid, a pyridinium ionic liquid, a phosphonium ionic liquid, a tetra alkyl ammonium ionic liquid, and combinations thereof; and the catalyst comprises at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium; forming a second mixture comprising a portion of the alkyl-aromatic compound, a second solvent comprising a second carboxylic acid having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, a second bromine source, and a second catalyst comprising at least one of cobalt, titanium, manganese, chromium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, and zirconium; contacting the second mixture with a second oxidizing agent at second oxidizing conditions to produce a second solid oxidation product comprising at least one of a second aromatic aldehyde, a second aromatic alcohol, a second aromatic ketone, and a second aromatic carboxylic acid; optionally, the second solvent further comprises a second ionic liquid selected from the group consisting of an imidazolium ionic liquid, a pyridinium ionic liquid, a phosphonium ionic liquid, a tetra alkyl ammonium ionic liquid, and combinations thereof; and wherein the amounts of various contaminants in the solid oxidation product can be controlled.