SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS USING HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSTS

A process for the complete or partial oxidation of hydrocarbons comprises contacting a C 1 -C 8 hydrocarbon and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst under conditions suitable to convert the C 1 -C 8 hydrocarbon to at least one corresponding C 1 -C 8 oxygenate product, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst provides confinement and contains both Bronsted-Lowry and Lewis acid centers. Examples include zeolites modified with selected metals or metal oxides. Including copper, either in the catalyst, in a second catalyst of similar description, or as a homogeneous salt, increases both selectivity and activity of the process, particularly where an iron-containing catalyst is used.