Abstract: A process for activating fluid bed catalysts useful for producing maleic anhydride from 4 carbon atom hydrocarbons is provided including contacting the fluidized catalyst containing the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus with oxygen and a reducing gas at least partially combustible with oxygen at elevated temperatures sufficient to cause such combustion, wherein the molar ratio of reducing gas to oxygen is greater than the stoichiometric ratio required for complete combustion of the reducing gas. Also provided are catalysts activated by the process of the invention, as well as a process for producing maleic anhydride utilizing the catalysts thus activated.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of attrition resistant, microspheroidal fluid bed catalysts comprising the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus in which a vanadium phosphorus mixed oxided catalyst precursor is densified, comminuted, formed into fluidizable particles and calcined under fluidization-type conditions. The present invention further provides the attrition resistant fluidizable catalysts prepared by the inventive process, and further provides a process for utilizing such attrition resistant catalysts in the production of maleic anhydride in the vapor phase by the oxidation of 4 carbon atom hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process is provided for the nitrogenation of hydrocarbons, resulting in the production of cyclic imides and nitriles from hydrocarbons contacted with molecular oxygen and a nitrogenating agent, including ammonia or primary amines, in the presence of an oxidation catalyst containing variable valency metal oxides, in the vapor phase at elevated temperature.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of attrition resistant, microspheroidal fluid bed catalysts comprising the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus in which a vanadium phosphorus mixed oxided catalyst precursor is densified, comminuted, formed into fluidizable particles and calcined under fluidization-type conditions. The present invention further provides the attrition resistant fluidizable catalysts prepared by the inventive process, and further provides a process for utilizing such attrition resistant catalysts in the production of maleic anhydride in the vapor phase by the oxidation of 4 carbon atom hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process is provided for activating fluidizable catalysts containing the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus useful for the production of maleic anhydride from 4-carbon atom hydrocarbons and oxygen by subjecting the catalyst to fluidization conditions and contacting the fluidized catalyst with oxygen at a temperature at least 20.degree. C. greater than the temperature required to produce about 85 percent conversion of hydrocarbon. A process is also provided for adding make-up fluid bed catalyst to an equilibrated catalyst by introducing a calcined and unequilibrated make-up catalyst into the fluid bed vessel containing equilibrated catalyst, subjecting the mixture to fluidization conditions and contacting the fluidized catalyst mixture with oxygen at a temperature at least 20.degree. C. greater than the temperature required to produce about 85 percent conversion of the hydrocarbon. The catalysts so activated and a process for producing maleic anhydride from 4-carbon atom hydrocarbons is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. A vanadium compound is introduced into a liquid medium, a mixed phosphorus component comprising orthophosphoric acid and pyrophosphoric acid is added to the liquid medium, reduction of at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state is effected either prior to or subsequent to the addition of the mixed phosphorus component, and the resulting vanadium-phosphorus oxide catalyst precursor is recovered, dried and calcined.

Abstract: The invention herein is directed toward a process for the oxydehydrogenation of ethane in fixed-bed or fluid-bed reactors at temperatures of less than about 600.degree. C. The process includes the step of contacting ethane and an oxygen-containing gas with a catalyst composition having the formula V.sub.1.0 P.sub.a O.sub.x. The catalyst can be employed in supported or unsupported form. A promoter metal can optionally be present in the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. Vanadium phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursors prepared in solution in organic media are extracted from the organic media with water, with subsequent drying down to recover a precursor solid, or impregnation of a support with the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. A vanadium compound is introduced into a liquid medium, a mixed phosphorus component comprising orthophosphoric acid and pyrophosphoric acid is added to the liquid medium, reduction of at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state is effected either prior to or subsequent to the addition of the mixed phosphorus component, and the resulting vanadium-phosphorus oxide catalyst precursor is recovered, dried and calcined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. Vanadium phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursors prepared in solution in organic media are extracted from the organic media with water, with subsequent drying down to recover a precursor solid, or impregnation of a support with the aqueous solution.

Abstract: The present invention is a catalyst composition consisting of oxides or oxide complexes that contains catalytically significant amounts of uranium or thorium plus, tungsten, vanadium and molybdenum plus optionally one or more of Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mg, Mn, Bi, Ti, Zr, Sn, P, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, lanthanum or an element of the lanthanoid series. These catalysts are especially useful for producing acrylic acid from acrolein and for producing methacrylic acid from methacrolein.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of fluid bed oxidation catalysts containing the mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, comprising the steps of preparing the catalyst precursor, comminuting the precursor, introducing the precursor into water to form an aqueous slurry and spray drying the slurry. The resulting microspheroidal particles are excellent fluid bed catalysts for the preparation of maleic anhydride from 4-carbon atom hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus and the method for the preparation thereof, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce excellent yields of maleic anhydride with very good selectivity. At least one vanadium compound, a substantial portion of which is in the pentavalent state, and at least one phosphorus-containing compound is added to an organic liquid medium capable of reducing at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state, to form a reaction mixture. Partial reduction of the vanadium is effected in the presence of the phosphorus-containing compound and a highly ordered and uniform mixed vanadium phosphorus oxide-containing catalyst precursor is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. A vanadium compound is introduced into an olefinic halogenated organic liquid medium, a phosphorus-containing compound is added to the medium, reduction of at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state is effected either prior to or subsequent to the addition of the phosphorus-containing compound, and the resulting vanadium-phosphorus oxide catalyst precursor is recovered, dried and calcined.

Abstract: The present invention is a reactor that consists of a single shell that contains a reaction zone and a regeneration zone. The reaction zone and regeneration zone are arranged in such a manner that (a) a particulate solid may be transferred by flow of gases from the regeneration zone to the reaction zone by a first route and then back to the regeneration zone by a second route; and (b) the gases passing through the regeneration zone are not transferred to the reaction zone and the gases passing through the reaction zone are not transferred to the regeneration zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus and the method for the preparation thereof, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce excellent yields of maleic anhydride with very good selectivity. At least one vanadium compound, a substantial portion of which is in the pentavalent state, and at least one phosphorus-containing compound is added to an organic liquid medium capable of reducing at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state, to form a reaction mixture. Partial reduction of the vanadium is effected in the presence of the phosphorus-containing compound and a highly ordered and uniform mixed vanadium phosphorus oxide-containing catalyst precursor is formed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of oxidation catalysts containing mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus, which catalysts are particularly effective in the oxidation of n-butane, n-butenes, 1,3-butadiene or a mixture thereof with molecular oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the vapor phase to produce high yields of maleic anhydride with good selectivity. A vanadium compound is introduced into an olefinic halogenated organic liquid medium, a phosphorus-containing compound is added to the medium, reduction of at least a portion of the vanadium to a +4 valence state is effected either prior to or subsequent to the addition of the phosphorus-containing compound, and the resulting vanadium-phosphorus oxide catalyst precursor is recovered, dried and calcined.

Abstract: Maleic anhydride is produced by the oxidation of 1,3-butadiene, n-butylenes, crotonaldehyde and furan with molecular oxygen in the vapor phase in the presence of catalytic oxides of antimony, molybdenum, at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, zirconium, titanium and tantalum and optionally a reducing agent capable of reducing at least part of the molybdenum in the catalyst to a valence state below +6 selected from the group consisting of hydrazine hydrate, molybdenum, tungsten, magnesium, aluminum, and nickel. This catalyst may optionally contain one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Li, Ag, Ce, Cd, Co, As, Si, Zn, Ge, Bi, Ru, Pt, U, Al and Ni. Preferred catalysts contain Nb, Zr, Ta or Ti in combination with Nb, Zr, or Ta. Especially desirable yields of maleic anhydride are obtained from 1,3-butadiene in the presence of a catalyst wherein molybdenum metal is used as a reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of unsaturated aliphatic acids and the catalyst therefor, by the vapor phase oxidation of the corresponding unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes with molecular oxygen, optionally in the presence of steam, in the presence of an oxidation catalyst consisting of the oxides of the elements molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten and lanthanum, and optionally one or more of the oxides of the elements manganese, iron, copper, aluminum, cobalt, nickel, phosphorus, zinc, bismuth, silver, cadmium, niobium, arsenic, chromium, the alkali and the alkaline earth elements.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic oxidation of olefins to unsaturated aldehydes and acids and the ammoxidation of olefins to unsaturated nitriles in which the catalyst comprises a promoted, reduced, antimony oxidemolybdenum oxide-containing catalyst.