Abstract: A process for obtaining higher aliphatic alcohols starting from aliphatic primary alcohols by condensation reactions is disclosed. Specifically, the process comprises a step in which an aliphatic primary alcohol is contacted in a homogeneous phase with a catalyst mixture comprising a transition metal, a base and an additive; specifically, this additive can be selected from the classes of compounds of the isoquinolines N-oxide, quinolines N-oxide, pyridines N-oxide, benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, or TEMPO. In particular, the process can be carried out by contacting said aliphatic primary alcohol with a catalyst of a recycled transition metal, with a freshly added base and with a recycled additive of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: A catalyst having coke wherein the coke, upon analysis by infrared spectroscopy in diffuse reflection, has at least two peaks at a wavelength between 1450 cm?1 and 1700 cm?1. The aforesaid catalyst having coke can be advantageously used in a process for the production of a diene, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably 1,3-butadiene, said process having the dehydration of at least one alkenol having a number of carbon atoms greater than or equal to 4. Preferably, the alkenol having a number of carbon atoms greater than or equal to 4 can be obtained directly from biosynthetic processes, or through catalytic dehydration processes of at least one diol. When the alkenol is a butenol, the diol is preferably a butanediol, more preferably 1,3-butanediol, even more preferably bio-1,3-butanediol, i.e. 1,3-butanediol deriving from biosynthetic processes. When the diol is 1,3-butanediol, or bio-1,3-butanediol, the diene obtained with the process is, respectively, 1,3-butadiene, or bio-1,3-butadiene.

Abstract: A process of preparation of carboxylic acids by oxidative cleavage of compounds having substituted or non-substituted, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated alkyl chains containing at least one vicinal diol or an epoxide in the presence of an oxidant comprising molecular oxygen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a copper oxide.

Abstract: A process for obtaining higher aliphatic alcohols starting from aliphatic primary alcohols by condensation reactions is disclosed. Specifically, the process comprises a step in which an aliphatic primary alcohol is contacted in a homogeneous phase with a catalyst mixture comprising a transition metal, a base and an additive; specifically, this additive can be selected from the classes of compounds of the isoquinolines N-oxide, quinolines N-oxide, pyridines N-oxide, benzoquinones, naphthoquinones, or TEMPO. In particular, the process can be carried out by contacting said aliphatic primary alcohol with a catalyst of a recycled transition metal, with a freshly added base and with a recycled additive of the aforementioned type.

Abstract: A method is for the preparation of furoic acid or of one of its derivatives of formula (I): in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl group, a —C(?O)—H group or a —COOH group, by heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of furfural or a derivative thereof of formula (II). The oxidation is carried out in the presence of a supported catalyst based on gold nanoparticles, and in a non-alkaline aqueous medium. A composition useful in the method includes at least furfural and supported gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparation of carboxylic acids by oxidative cleavage of at least one vicinal diol or an epoxide in the presence of an oxidant comprising molecular oxygen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising a copper oxide.

Abstract: A method is for the preparation of furoic acid or of one of its derivatives of formula (I): in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl group, a —C(?O)—H group or a —COOH group, by heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of furfural or a derivative thereof of formula (II). The oxidation is carried out in the presence of a supported catalyst based on gold nanoparticles, and in a non-alkaline aqueous medium. A composition useful in the method includes at least furfural and supported gold nanoparticles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a modified vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst for the partial oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. The catalyst comprises vanadyl pyrophosphate as main component and niobium as a promoter element in an amount corresponding to an atomic ratio of vanadium to niobiurn in the range of 250:1 to 60:1. The catalyst exhibits improved activity, improved yield of maleic anhydride, and optimal performance from the very beginning of its catalytic lifetime.

Abstract: Catalytic compositions of oxides of titanium, vanadium and tin that are suitable for the production of phthalic anhydride by oxidizing o-xylene and/or naphthalene in the gas phase. The catalysts exhibit excellent activity and selectivity. The catalyst contains 2 to 15 percent by weight (calculated as V2O5) of vanadium, 1 to 15 percent weight (calculated as SnO2) of tin and 70 to 97 percent by weight (calculated as TiO2) of titanium. In a preferred embodiment the catalyst also contains up to 5 percent by weight (calculated as M2O) of at least one alkali metal, preferably lithium, potassium or rubidium, and more preferably cesium. In an even more preferred embodiment, cesium is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 2 percent by weight (calculated as Cs2O).

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of a modified vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst for the partial oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. The catalyst comprises vanadyl pyrophosphate as main component and niobium as a promoter element in an amount corresponding to an atomic ratio of vanadium to niobiurn in the range of 250:1 to 60:1. The catalyst exhibits improved activity, improved yield of maleic anhydride, and optimal performance from the very beginning of its catalytic lifetime.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalytic compositions comprising oxides of titanium vanadium and tin which are suitable for the production of phthalic anhydride by oxidizing o-xylene and/or napthalene in the gas phase. The catalysts exibit excellent activity and selectivity. The catalyst comprise 2 to 15% by weight (calculated as V2O5) of vanadium, from 1 to 15% by weight (calculated as SnO2) of tin and further comprise from 70 to 97% by weight (calculated as TiO2) of titanium. In a preferred embodiment the catalyst of the invention comprise up to 5% by weight (calculated as M2O) of at least tine alkali metal preferably lithium, potassium or rubidium, and more preferably cesium. In an even more preferred embodiment, cesium is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 2% by weight (calculated as Cs2O).

Abstract: Active vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst for the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., n-butane, into maleic anhydride. The catalyst is prepared from the catalyst precursor, that is, prepared by the reaction of a source of vanadium in an organic medium in the presence of a phosphorus source. The organic medium is (a) isobutyl alcohol or a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol and (b) a polyol. The catalyst precurso is transformed into the active catalyst by an activation process that includes a heat treatment that includes applying a temperature of up to 600° C.

Abstract: Active vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst for the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g., n-butane, into maleic anhydride. The catalyst is prepared from the catalyst precursor, that is, prepared by the reaction of a source of vanadium in an organic medium in the presence of a phosphorus source. The organic medium is (a) isobutyl alcohol or a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol and (b) a polyol. The catalyst precursor is transformed into the active catalyst by an activation process that includes a heat treatment that includes applying a temperature of up to 600° C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor is described, comprising the reaction of a vanadium source in selected organic media in the presence of a phophorus source. The medium comprises: (a) isobutyl alcohol or a mixture of isobutyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol and (b) a polyol in the weight ratio (a) to (b) of 99:1 to 5:95. After its activation, the vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor is an excellent catalyst in the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons like n-butane to malic anhydride.

Abstract: A catalyst for the full oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC), particularly hydrocarbons, and of CO to CO2, which comprises a compound having the formula A2B3O6±d where A is an alkaline-earth metal, an alkaline metal, a lanthanide, or a solid solution thereof, B is a transition metal, an element of group III, or a solid solution thereof, and d has a value between 0 and 1; and a method for the full oxidation of volatile organic compounds using the catalyst.

Abstract: Solid catalysts suited for the fluidized/moving bed catalytic ammoxidation of alkanes comprise an active catalytic phase having the empirical formula (I): VSbaSnbTicFedEeOx  (I) in which E is an element which provides an oxide of rutile structure or an element which, in combination with V, Sb, Sn, Ti, Fe and/or with another element E, provides a phase of rutile or trirutile structure, or a solid solution of rutile structure, a is a whole or fractional number equal to or greater than 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of mixed vanadium, antimony and iron oxides and to their use as catalysts for the ammoxidation of alkanes. The process for the preparation of a mixed oxide defined above is characterized in that:respective vanadium, antimony and iron compounds are dissolved in at least one saturated alcohol or in water,the alcoholic .epsilon.olution or the aqueous solution thus obtained is brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing an ammonium salt, in order to precipitate the mixed oxide,the mixed oxide obtained is separated and calcined.

Abstract: Mixed oxide vanadium/antimony/titanium ammoxidation catalysts, particularly suited for the ammoxidation of alkanes and exhibiting X-ray diffraction spectra which are characteristic of a crystallographic phase of rutile TiO.sub.2, are prepared by (a) dissolving respective soluble compounds of vanadium, of antimony and of titanium in at least one saturated alcohol, (b) contacting the alcoholic solution thus obtained with water and precipitating the mixed oxide therefrom, and (c) separating and calcining the mixed oxide thus precipitated.

Abstract: A vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursor is transformed into the active catalyst for the production of maleic anhydride. The activation takes place in a fluidized bed and includes the steps of (a) initially heating the precursor; (b) further heating under superatmospheric pressure; (c) isothermal stage at superatmospheric pressure; and, finally, (d) cooling the activated catalyst obtained. Catalysts activated according to this procedure show high performance in the conversion of non-aromatic hydrocarbons to maleic anhydride.

Abstract: Vanadium/antimony/tin mixed oxides having the empirical formula (I):VSb.sub.a Sn.sub.b O.sub.x (I)exhibit an X-ray diffraction pattern characteristic of a crystallographic phase of rutile SnO.sub.2, are well suited as catalysts for the vapor phase ammoxidation of alkanes, and are conveniently prepared by (a) dissolving respective compounds of vanadium, antimony and tin in at least one saturated alcohol, (b) intimately contacting the alcoholic solution thus obtained with an aqueous solution containing an ammonium salt, thus precipitating the mixed oxides therefrom, and (c) separating and calcining these mixed oxides.