Novel catalysts having NOx-adsorption sites for the selective oxidation of ethane Original Research Article

Adsorption of NO2 on titanium dioxide was stabilized by the addition of Fe in small amounts. The stabilized NO2/Fe/TiO2 was found to catalyze the selective oxidation of ethane by oxygen into ethylene, acetaldehyde, ethanol, and acetic acid at around 723 K. Through a rapid screening, the oxides of Zr, Ti, La or Zn modified by Fe, Ir, or Group-IB metals and treated with NO2 were selected for the catalysts giving ethanol and acetic acid from ethane. It was estimated that the primary product from ethane was ethylene; this was then hydrated and oxidized successively into ethanol and acetic acid. The hydration step was considered to be the key step for the ethanol and acetic acid formations.