A Novel Synthesis for Glyoxylic Acid with O_2 Catalysed by Nitrogen Oxide

A novel method was reported for the synthesis of glyoxylic acid from glyoxal oxidized by O_2 under the catalysis of NO_n (n=1,2). A possible reaction mechanism was proposed. Under the optimized reaction conditions (catalyst 0.13～0.15 mol(per mole glyoxal), mass fraction of glyoxylic acid 25%, Lewis acid 0.11～0.13 mol(per mole glyoxal), 40～50 ℃, 0.5 MPa), a good result was achieved with the conversion 98.7%, selectivity 79% and yield 78%. Compared with the industrial method using nitric acid, the present contribution is more safe, economical and less contaminating the environment.