Abstract: Disclosed herein are catalyst compositions comprised of:(a) from about 15 to about 85 wt. % of crystallites selected from the group consisting of (i) crystallites of one or more transition metals and (ii) crystallites of reducible transition metal carbides and nitrides, and mixtures thereof, said transition metal being selected from those reducible metals from Groups IB, IIB, VIB, VIIB, and VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, wherein at least 80% of the crystallities have a diameter, d, between about 25 .ANG. and 500 .ANG. with the proviso that the crystallite size distribution of at least about 80% of these be expressed by the relationship 0.5D<d<2D where D is the median of the diameters of this 80%.(b) from about 15 to about 85 wt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing dual colloid catalyst compositions wherein a gel, or colloidal suspension is formed by admixing (a) a 0.6 to 10M aqueous solution containing one or more soluble salts or complexes of one or more transition metals, wherein at least one of the transition metals is reducible and hydrolyzable, and one or more elements selected from Cr, Al, Si, Th, U, the lanthanides, and elements from Groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table of the Elements, with (b) a 0.5 to 10N aqueous base solution. The solid material is separated from the resulting gel, or colloidal suspension and washed and dried.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing dual colloid catalyst compositions which are suitable for use in such processes as ammonia synthesis, carbon monoxide hydrogenation, hydrogenation and denitrogenation. The method comprises forming a gel, or suspension, by admixing: (i) one or more transition metal cyano-containing anionic-complex solutions wherein at least one solution contains a reducible transition metal, and wherein one or more of these solutions optionally contains a nonreducible metal, with (ii) one or more solutions containing polyovalent metal cations. The resulting gel, or suspension is heated at a temperature of about 90.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. for an effective amount of time to allow hydrolysis and polymerization to occur. The resulting solid is then separated and dried.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for the synthesis of ammonia is described wherein a promoted iron-derived, pre-reduced catalyst is oxidatively leached with a neutral aqueous solution of potassium cyanide. Preferably an organic carboxylic acid such as citric acid is added to the aqueous solution to maintain the pH at about neutral. The resulting leached catalyst has a markedly higher activity than the unleached catalyst. The leached catalyst may be contacted with a cobalt complex or a nickel salt to incorporate cobalt or nickel therein which catalysts are also useful for ammonia synthesis.

Abstract: This invention involves a process for dimeric carbonylation of 1,3-butadiene in the presence of an alkanol and a palladium-phosphine complex catalyst to yield alkyl nonadienoate.An important aspect of the invention process is the recovery of a separate alkanol-rich liquid phase which contains the catalyst in a highly reactive form suitable for recycle.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved catalyst for vapor phase oxidation of propylene or isobutylene to the corresponding acrolein or methacrolein product. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation catalyst corresponds to the formula:Mo.sub.12 Co.sub.4-5 Fe.sub.2-4 Ni.sub.2-3 Bi.sub.0.5-2 K.sub.0.65-1.3 P.sub.0.35-0.5 O.sub.xThis invention further provides a method of preparing the improved oxidation catalyst which in one important aspect of the preparation involves controlling the pH of an aqueous slurry admixture of catalyst components within the range of about 1-5.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for converting sensitive organic compounds such as acrolein, methacrolein, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid from liquid to vapor in admixture with a gas stream at super-atmospheric pressures with minimum decomposition and substantially without polymer formation. The acrolein and methacrolein partial pressures being up to super-atmospheric and those of acrylic and methacrylic acids up to about an atmosphere.An apparatus and a process are also disclosed for transferring a sensitive organic material in an energy-efficient manner from a low-pressure, high-temperature gas-vapor stream to a solvent for the sensitive material, and then to another gas stream at increased pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved catalyst for vapor phase oxidation of propylene or isobutylene to the corresponding acrolein or methacrolein product. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation catalyst corresponds to the formula:Mo.sub.12 Ni.sub.6 Bi.sub.1.5-2.5 Co.sub.2 Fe.sub.2 Sb.sub.2 Zn.sub.0.3-0.8 K.sub.0.4-2 O.sub.xThis invention further provides a method of preparing the improved oxidation catalyst which in one important aspect of the preparation involves controlling the pH of an aqueous slurry admixture of catalyst components within the range of about 1-5.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved catalyst for vapor phase oxidation of propylene or isobutylene to the corresponding acrolein or methacrolein product. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation catalyst corresponds to the formula:Mo.sub.12 Co.sub.4-5 Fe.sub.2-4 Ni.sub.2-3 Bi.sub.0.5-2 K.sub.0.65-1.3 P.sub.0.35-0.5 O.sub.xThis formula further provides a method of preparing the improved oxidation catalyst which in one important aspect of the preparation involves controlling the pH of an aqueous slurry admixture of catalyst components within the range of about 1-5.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved catalyst for vapor phase oxidation of propylene or isobutylene to the corresponding acrolein or methacrolein product. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation catalyst corresponds to the formula:Mo.sub.12 Ni.sub.6 Bi.sub.1.5-2.5 Co.sub.2 Fe.sub.2 Sb.sub.2 Zn.sub.0.3 -0.8K.sub.0.4 -2O.sub.xThis invention further provides a method of preparing the improved oxidation catalyst which in one important aspect of the preparation involves controlling the pH of an aqueous slurry admixture of catalyst components within the range of about 1-5.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing 1,4-butanediol by (1) selectively hydrogenating acrolein to a product mixture of allyl alcohol and residual acrolein in a 2:1 ratio, (2) converting the product mixture to acrolein diallyl acetal under acidic conditions, (3) selectively hydroformylating the acrolein diallyl acetal to a trialdehyde, and (4) reacting the trialdehyde under substantially neutral hydrolysis/hydrogenation conditions to yield 1,4-butanediol.Acrolein is converted into tetrahydrofuran employing the process conditions described above, except that the step (4) hydrolysis/hydrogenation reaction is conducted under acidic conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing an improved selective oxidation catalyst consisting of a highly compressed mixture of metal oxides in which the atomic ratio of elements varies between about 0.3 and 2.4 atoms selected from phosphorus, manganese, germanium, zirconium, tin, tellurium, cerium and hafnium, and between about 0.4 and 3.6 atoms selected from titanium, vanadium, niobium, antimony and tantalum, per twelve atoms of molybdenum.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes are disclosed for converting sensitive organic compounds such as acrolein, methacrolein, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid from liquid to vapor in admixture with a gas stream at super-atmospheric pressures with minimum decomposition and substantially without polymer formation. The acrolein and methacrolein partial pressures being up to super-atmospheric and those of acrylic and methacrylic acids up to about an atmosphere.An apparatus and a process are also disclosed for transferring a sensitive organic material in an energy-efficient manner from a low-pressure, high-temperature gas-vapor stream to a solvent for the sensitive material, and then to another gas stream at increased pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing an improved selective oxidation catalyst consisting of a highly compressed mixture of metal oxides in which the atomic ratio of elements varies between about 0.3 and 2.4 atoms selected from phosphorus, manganese, germanium, zirconium, tin, tellurium, cerium and hafnium, and between about 0.4 and 3.6 atoms selected from titanium, vanadium, niobium, antimony and tantalum, per twelve atoms of molybdenum.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing 1,4-butanediol by (1) selectively hydrogenating acrolein to a product mixture of allyl alcohol and residual acrolein in a 2:1 ratio, (2) converting the product mixture to acrolein diallyl acetal under acidic conditions, (3) selectively hydroformylating the acrolein diallyl acetal to a trialdehyde, and (4) reacting the trialdehyde under substantially neutral hydrolysis/hydrogenation conditions to yield 1,4-butanediol.Acrolein is converted into tetrahydrofuran employing the process conditions described above, except that the step (4) hydrolysis/hydrogenation reaction is conducted under acidic conditions.

Abstract: This invention provides a silver-cadmium alloy catalyst which is highly selective for hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated alcohol derivatives. Acrolein is hydrogenated to allyl alcohol in 70 percent yield at 100 percent conversion.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved hydrogenation process for converting .alpha.,.beta.-olefinically unsaturated carbonylic compounds into the corresponding allylic alcohol derivatives in the presence of a novel silver-cadmium alloy catalyst. Acrolein is hydrogenated to allyl alcohol with 100 percent conversion and 70 percent yield.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved process for converting acrolein into 1,4-butanediol via allyl alcohol and 4-hydroxy-butanal intermediates.

Abstract: This invention provides a silver-cadmium-zinc alloy catalyst which is highly selective for hydrogenation of .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated alcohol derivatives. Acrolein is hydrogenated to allyl alcohol in 70 percent yield at 100 percent conversion.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing carboxylic esters in high yield by contacting alkanol in vapor phase with a novel silver-cadmium alloy catalyst.