Abstract: A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact a feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO2 to produce a stream enriched in CO2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

Abstract: A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons CO to CO2 is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO2 to produce a stream enriched in CO2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

Abstract: A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons CO to CO2 is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO2 to produce a stream enriched in CO2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

Abstract: Enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof are provided. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent includes an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent including at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen has an oxidation state greater than +2. A method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The method includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaSO4 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to producing olefins and other products by oxidative dehydrogenation cracking of a hydrocarbon feed. In one embodiment, the method includes oxidative cracking a hydrocarbon feed comprised of plastic waste. Methods of the present invention employ dual functional catalyst comprising solid acids and metal oxides, which are capable of selectively oxidizing hydrogen to water rather than combustion of the hydrocarbon feeds or products. Additional aspects of the invention demonstrate catalyst synthetic methods for encapsulating metal oxides in the internal channels and cages of solid acids, thereby improving the selective oxidation of hydrogen to water and decreasing feed and product oxidation. The re-oxidation of the thus reduced metal oxide transfer agents supplies heat to drive the endothermic cracking of the feed.

Abstract: Enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof are provided. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent includes an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent including at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen has an oxidation state greater than +2. A method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed is provided. The method includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaSO4 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent comprising an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent comprised of at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen having an oxidation state greater than +2. According to another aspect, a method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaS04 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to producing olefins by oxidative dehydrogenation cocracking of a hydrocarbon feed. In one embodiment, the method includes oxidative cocracking a hydrocarbon feed comprised of at least one alkane having a carbon chain of five or more and at least one alkane having a carbon chain of four or less by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a metal oxide, such that the cracking of the at least one alkane having a carbon chain of four or less produces olefins and is exothermic, and the cracking of the at least one alkane having a carbon chain of five or more produces olefins and is endothermic. The method further includes utilizing the energy produced from the exothermic cracking of the alkane having a carbon chain of four or less for the endothermic cracking of the alkane having a carbon chain of five or more, and collecting the product.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to enhanced oxygen transfer agent systems and methods of use thereof. According to one aspect, a method for producing olefins from a hydrocarbon feed includes the step of contacting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes with an oxygen transfer agent at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. The oxygen transfer agent comprising an oxygen-donating chalcogen agent comprised of at least one of S, Se, or Te and a reducible metal oxide. The chalcogen having an oxidation state greater than +2. According to another aspect, a method for producing one or more olefins by partial combustion of a hydrocarbon feed includes partially combusting a hydrocarbon feed comprised of one or more alkanes by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with an oxygen transfer agent comprising CaS04 at a temperature of 350° C. to 1000° C. to produce one or more olefins comprising ethylene and coproducing water.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to producing olefins by oxidative dehydrogenation cocracking of a hydrocarbon feed. In one embodiment, the method includes oxidative cocracking a hydrocarbon feed comprised of at least one alkane having a carbon chain of five or more and at least one alkane having a carbon chain of four or less by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a metal oxide, such that the cracking of the at least one alkane having a carbon chain of four or less produces olefins and is exothermic, and the cracking of the at least one alkane having a carbon chain of five or more produces olefins and is endothermic. The method further includes utilizing the energy produced from the exothermic cracking of the alkane having a carbon chain of four or less for the endothermic cracking of the alkane having a carbon chain of five or more, and collecting the product.

Abstract: Highly selective and productive epoxidation catalysts are prepared by combining a titanium zeolite, palladium, and a gold promoter. The resulting materials are useful catalysts for transforming olefins to epoxides in the reaction of an olefin, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Abstract: The liquid-phase epoxidation reaction of an olefin with hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst mixture containing a titanium zeolite and a supported catalyst surprisingly produces less ring-opened products such as glycols when performed in the presence of a buffer. This is particularly surprising because a typical palladium on titanium zeolite catalyst is little effected by the presence of a buffer. Surprisingly, the use of a buffer also typically improves the activity of the process.

Abstract: A supported gold-containing catalyst is effective for producing hydrogen peroxide from the direct liquid-phase reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A supported gold-containing catalyst is effective for producing hydrogen peroxide from the direct liquid-phase reaction of hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: A catalyst mixture containing a titanium zeolite and a supported gold-containing catalyst is highly selective and productive for transforming olefins to epoxides in the liquid-phase reaction of an olefin, hydrogen, and oxygen. This is particularly surprising because neither titanium zeolite nor the supported gold-containing catalyst alone is effective in olefin epoxidation.

Abstract: The selectivity of an olefin epoxidation catalyzed by a noble metal-modified titanium or vanadium zeolite is greatly enhanced by the addition of a nitrogen compound to the reaction mixture. The epoxidation utilizes hydrogen and oxygen in addition to the olefin.

Abstract: A process for converting an olefin such as propylene to the corresponding epoxide is described wherein the olefin, hydrogen and oxygen are contacted with a catalyst comprised of gold on a zirconium-containing support such as zirconia.

Abstract: Oxirane compounds are formed by vapor phase catalytic molecular oxygen oxidation of a C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 olefin using a silver catalyst, and the selectivity to the oxirane product is enhanced by preconditioning the catalyst by contact with the olefin at elevated temperature in the absence of oxygen; oxygen is periodically pulsed to the reaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the fluid bed cracking of polyether polyols to volatile lower molecular weight products.

Abstract: Thermoset polymers such as polyurethanes and unsaturated polyester resins may be conveniently converted into useful volatile lower molecular weight organic compounds. Fillers can be recovered from filled thermoset resins using the process of the invention, which employs a zeolite-containing particulate catalyst.