CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF ANIONIC SURFACE-ACTIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE EMULSION OXIDATION OF CUMENE BY MOLECULAR-OXYGEN

An investigation has been made of the inherent catalytic acitivity of typical anionic surface-active substances (SASs) under conditions of i nterphase catalysis in the absence of any other catalysts for the case of model oxidation of cumene by molecular oxygen. Catalytic activity has been found for all the anionic SASs investigated. The activity of the SASs was assessed from the maximum oxygen absorption rates W, dete rmined on the linear sections of kinetic curves, and from the specific catalytic activity A(sp) per mole SAS. According to chromatographic d ata, the main oxidation product of cumene is cumyl hydroperoxide, with acetophenone and dimethylphenylcarbinol as byproducts.