Patents
An improved process for preparing secondary alcohols by liquid phase oxidation comprising of an improved process for preparing secondary alcohols by liquid phase oxidation comprising of contacting n-alkanes having 10-20 carbon atoms with Catalyst A characterized by, contacting the resulting mixture 10-20 carbon atoms with boric acid water solution; contacting the resulting mixture with air, O2 or oxygen containing inert gas such as N2 at a temperature in the range of 150-250½C and at a pressure of atmospheric to 10 bar for a period in the range of 1-2 h at a space velocity of 02 nitrogen mixture of 1-250 lr1; adding catalyst B as herein described in concentration ranging between 1-500 ppm of n-paraffin and continuing the reaction for 1-10 h, separating the unreacted n-alkanes, secondary alcohol borate esters and unreacted boric acid by distillation; recovering the secondary alcohols by hydrolysis, recycling.