Highly crystalline near-faujasite Na-GeX, and its protonated and sulfated f
orms have been prepared and used as catalysts fur the oxidation of several
hydrocarbons with different structures (benzene, toluene, cyclohexane) in t
he presence of H2O2. The catalysts have been characterized using surface ar
ea measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) techniques. The
catalytic experiments have been performed both at normal and autogenic pres
sure. Autogenic pressures highly improved the oxidation degree of the hydro
carbons. It was found that the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the presence of
H2O2 depended not only on the formation of Ge-peroxo species but also on t
he acidic properties of the catalyst, and also involved the activation of O
-2 formed in situ. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.