Liquid Phase Oxidation of Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Bismuth Sulfate

Abstract

The catalysis of bismuth sulfate in the liquid phase oxidation of hydrocarbons and the decomposition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide has been investigated. Bismuth sulfate exhibits catalytic activity in the oxidation of olefins, but it does not with non-olefinic hydrocarbons, and it also decomposes tert-butyl hydroperoxide only in the presence of olefin. The rate of oxidation is the first order with respect to the concentration of olefin and about one-half order with respect to that of bismuth sulfate. The decomposition rate of tert-butyl hydroperoxide is the first order with respect to the concentration of the hydroperoxide and of bismuth sulfate. The catalytic and thermal decomposition rates of tert-butyl hydroperoxide do not depend on the concentration of olefin, but the rates increase with the decrease of ionization potential of olefin. Electron donative olefins and bismuth sulfate seem to accelerate the heterolytic decomposition of hydroperoxides and to initiate the autoxidation of olefins.