Patent ID: 7091386

Claim:
A catalytic process for the oxidation of a reactant moiety to a product moiety, the process comprising: a) providing a silver foil substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface capable of absorbing oxygen atoms and desorbing oxygen molecules; b) heating the substrate and contacting the first surface of the heated substrate with molecular oxygen for approximately 0.5 to 1.5 hours and at a pressure sufficient to cause the substrate to absorb the atomic oxygen; c) cooling the substrate to a temperature between 300 and 400 degrees Kelvin; d) contacting the first surface of the foil to a high pressure oxygen containing fluid; e) applying a vacuum to the second surface of the foil; and f) contacting the second surface of the foil with a reactant selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethylene, propylene, benzene or combinations thereof, thereby oxygenating the reactant.