Abstract: Disclosed is ammoxidation of C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 acyclic alkanes with NH.sub.3 and O.sub.2 using (1) a mole ratio of alkane:NH.sub.3 in the range from 2 to 16 and a mole ratio of alkane:O.sub.2 in the range 1 to 10 and (2) a mixture of particulate catalyst compositions, the first being especially effective to promote formation of an unsaturated nitrile and an olefin from the paraffin, and the second catalyst composition being especially effective to promote the conversion of the olefin to the unsaturated nitrile. Catalyst compositions useful in the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the vapor phase ammoxidation of a C.sub.3 to C.sub.5 paraffin to an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated nitrile having 3-5 C atoms, using a particulate bismuth-vanadium oxide catalyst containing at least one other specified element.

Abstract: Unsaturated nitriles, particularly acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile, are produced in a process which integrates dehydrogenation of an alkane, particularly propane or isobutane, to the corresponding olefin, followed by ammoxidation of the olefin in the dehydrogenation reactor effluent to the corresponding nitrile. After recovery of the nitrile product, the residual gases are processed to remove hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon oxides, after which the gases are recycled to the dehydrogenation reactor. By operating with relatively low conversion of olefin to nitrile in each pass, the overall efficiency of the process is improved despite the need to recirculate substantial amounts of unreacted hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The ammoxidation of n-butane to acrylonitrile and hydrogen cyanide by a process comprising reacting a gaseous mixture containing n-butane, ammonia and oxygen in the presence of a metal promoted highly siliceous zeolite catalyst, where the zeolite is one comprising ZSM-5, ZSM-5-type aluminosilicate zeolites, or aluminum-free ZSM-5-type zeolites, is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for improving the activity of tellurium containing metal oxide catalysts useful as catalysts for oxidation, ammoxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation of organic compounds by heating the catalysts together with a tellurium containing solid and an optional molybdenum containing solid to a temperature up to about 900.degree. C. in a gaseous atmosphere. The process can be effectively applied to deteriorated or spent catalysts, the activity of which has been deteriorated due to use for a long period of time. The tellurium containing solid used as an activity improving agent is elemental tellurium and the molybdenum containing solid is selected from the group consisting of (i) a molybdenum compound, (ii) at least one molybdenum compound supported on an inert carrier, and (iii) a molybdenum enriched catalyst prepared by adding a Mo component to a metal oxide catalyst (which may be a fresh catalyst or a deteriorated catalyst).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing keto-cyano alkane compounds by treating the corresponding alpha substituted cycloalkanone compound with oxygen and ammonia in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

Abstract: A regeneration process for tellurium-containing metal oxide catalysts used in the process for oxidation, ammoxidation or oxidative dehydrogenation of organic compounds at a temperature of about 300.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C. The process can be effectively applied to such catalysts which have become partially deactivated during the reaction.