Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises a metal phosphate matrix containing vanadium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises, in an active phase, vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of titanium.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, bismuth and titanium. Preferably, the catalyst comprises 0.3 wt % to 30 wt % vanadium, 0.1 wt % to 69 wt % bismuth and 0.1 wt % to 61 wt % tungsten, in an active phase.

Abstract: The invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process includes the steps of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst composition under conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and tungsten. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to tungsten at a molar ratio of at least 0.02:1, in an active phase.

Abstract: A process for producing an acrylate product comprises the step of contacting an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent over a catalyst over conditions effective to produce the acrylate product. The catalyst composition comprises vanadium, titanium and bismuth. Preferably, the catalyst comprises vanadium to bismuth at a molar ratio of greater than 0.2:1, in an active phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid and an alkylenating agent composition under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. The alkylenating agent composition comprises at least 1 wt % of a ring-structured compound comprising at least two oxygen atoms and at least one carbon atom, e.g., trioxane and/or tetraoxane. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude acrylate product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of dehydrating a crude alkylenating agent stream to form a dehydrated alkylenating agent stream and a water stream. The process further comprises reacting acetic acid with at least a portion of the dehydrated alkylenating agent stream to form a crude acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent stream. The dehydrating of the crude alkylenating stream is accomplished using at least one evaporator or at least one distillation column.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of providing a crude product stream comprising the acrylate product and an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form an alkylenating agent stream and an intermediate product stream. The alkylenating agent stream comprises at least 1 wt % alkylenating agent and the intermediate product stream comprises acrylate product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting an alcohol and oxygen in a reactor to produce a high temperature alkylenating agent stream comprising an alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of contacting an alkanoic acid with at least a portion of the high temperature alkylenating agent stream under conditions effective to form a crude product stream comprising acrylate product and alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product stream to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream comprising acrylate product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium and titanium. The catalyst composition further comprises ethylene glycol and citric acid. Preferably, the catalyst composition is substantially free of oxalic acid and lactic acid.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for producing an acrylate product. The process comprises the step of reacting a reaction mixture comprising an alkanoic acid, an alkylenating agent, and oxygen over a catalyst and under conditions effective to form a crude acrylate product. Preferably, the reaction mixture comprises from 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % oxygen. The crude acrylate product comprises acrylate product and alkylenating agent. The process further comprises the step of separating at least a portion of the crude product to form at least one alkylenating agent stream and at least one purified acrylate product stream. The purified acrylate product stream comprises acrylate product.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium and titanium. The catalyst composition has a surface area of at least 22.6 m2/g and a plurality of pores, and the plurality of pores have a pore diameter of less than 11.9 nm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising titanium, phosphorus, and less than 1 wt. % vanadium. The catalyst composition has a molar ratio of phosphorus to titanium of at least 1.0:1.0.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition comprising vanadium, titanium; and at least one oxide additive. The at least one oxide additive is present in an amount of at least 0.1 wt % based on the total weight of the catalyst composition. The molar ratio of titanium to metal additive in an active phase of the catalyst composition is at least 0.05:1.

Abstract: A two-stage, gas phase process for manufacturing alkylene glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol) from an alkene (e.g., ethylene), oxygen and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting under gas phase, oxidation conditions gaseous alkene and oxygen over a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst to produce a gaseous oxidation product comprising alkylene oxide, water and unreacted alkene; (B) Contacting under gas phase, hydrolysis conditions the gaseous oxidation product of (A) with added water over a heterogeneous hydrolysis catalyst to produce a gaseous alkylene glycol and unreacted alkene; and (C) Recycling the unreacted alkene of (B) to (A). The hydrolysis catalyst is selected from the group consisting of hydrotalcites, metal-loaded zeolites, phosphates, and metal-loaded ion-exchanged molecular sieves.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition, comprising vanadium and titanium. Preferably, the molar ratio of vanadium to titanium in an active phase of the catalyst composition is greater than 0.5:1.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for catalytically converting biomass to oxygenated compounds suitable for use in bioreforming processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for deconstructing biomass using a solvent produced in a bioreforming reaction.

Abstract: A two-stage, gas phase process for manufacturing alkylene glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol) from an alkene (e.g., ethylene), oxygen and water, the process comprising the steps of: (A) Contacting under gas phase, oxidation conditions gaseous alkene and oxygen over a heterogeneous oxidation catalyst to produce a gaseous oxidation product comprising alkylene oxide, water and unreacted alkene; (B) Contacting under gas phase, hydrolysis conditions the gaseous oxidation product of (A) with added water over a heterogeneous hydrolysis catalyst to produce a gaseous alkylene glycol and unreacted alkene; and (C) Recycling the unreacted alkene of (B) to (A). The hydrolysis catalyst is selected from the group consisting of hydrotalcites, metal-loaded zeolites, phosphates, and metal-loaded ion-exchanged molecular sieves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of at least one acid and at least one base and/or at least one reductant and at least one oxidant that when used with a polymerization catalyst in a polymerization process results in the controllable generation of a catalyst inhibitor that renders the polymerization catalyst substantially or completely inactive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of at least one acid and at least one base and/or at least one reductant and at least one oxidant that when used with a polymerization catalyst in a polymerization process results in the controllable generation of a catalyst inhibitor that renders the polymerization catalyst substantially or completely inactive.