Abstract: A process for converting a gaseous reactant comprising methane or natural gas to higher molecular weight hydrocarbon products is disclosed which comprises: (1) contacting said gaseous reactant with an oxidative coupling catalyst at a reaction temperature of at least about 900.degree. C. for an effective period of time to form an intermediate product comprising ethane, ethylene or a mixture thereof, said catalyst being characterized by a melting point above said reaction temperature; and (2) pyrolyzing said intermediate product at a temperature of at least about 900.degree. C. for an effective period of time to form said higher molecular weight hydrocarbon products using exothermic heat generated by the formation of said intermediate product. Novel oxidative-coupling catalysts having melting points above about 900.degree. C. are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is making a particular inorganic crystalline vanadium III oxidic compound from a pentavalent vanadium compound and at least one other or more metal cations, which process comprises (1) reducing a pentavalent vanadium oxidic compound to the V.sup.III state by heating at 100.degree. C. or less an aqueous medium slurry or solution of said pentavalent compound containing a reducing agent selected from hydrazine and hydrocarbylhydrazine, (2) providing in said aqueous medium, either before, during or after said reducing step, said other metal cation(s) in solution in the ratio called for by said particular crystalline compound, (3) removing the liquid aqueous medium, and (4) calcining the resulting dry solid at a temperature in the range from 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere.Also disclosed is the vapor phase catalytic dehydrogenation of paraffins using certain spinels and perovskites as catalysts.

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 comosition being especially effective to promote the conversion of the olefin to the unsaturated nitrile. Catalyst compositions useful in the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: 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. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: 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. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an active and abrasion resistant catalyst composition comprising at least 5 weight percent alumina support and at most 95 percent of a complex oxide composition having the empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a H.sub.b C.sub.c O.sub.x,whereA is one or more of W, Sn, Mo, B, P and Ge;H is one or more of Cu, Ag, Nb, Ta, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mn, Zn, Se, Te, Ga, In and As;C is one or more of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and rare earths; andwhere m is from 0.01 and up to 20; a is 0-10; b is 0-20; c is 0-20 (usually 0-1); the ratio (a+b+c):(1+m) is 0.01-6; wherein x is determined by the oxidation state of the other elements, which method comprises mixing a hydrosol or gel of boehmite with a slurry or solution containing the other batch materials containing the elements of said formula, and thereafter drying and calcining the resultant solid.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising lead doped zirconium compounds are particularly effective in an oxidative process for upgrading low molecular weight alkanes to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, and especially for upgrading methane to form ethane and ethylene. The catalysts can be employed in a process performed at elevated temperatures and in the presence or absence of gaseous oxygen. The catalysts are substantially free of PbO and uncombined Pb and remain stable for long periods of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for ammoxidation of paraffins containing 3-5 C atoms using a complex metal oxide catalyst which is essentially free of bismuth, and has the elements and the proportions which are represented by the following empirical formula:VSb.sub.m P.sub.n A.sub.a D.sub.b C.sub.c O.sub.xwhereA is one of more of W, Sn, B, Mo and As;D is one or more of Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, Cu, Pb, Zn, Se, Te and As;C is one or more of an alkali metal, Ca, Sr, Ba, T1 and where m is greater than 1 and up to 20; n is 0-10; a is 0.2-10; b is 0-5; c is 0-1; a is equal to or less than m; b is equal to or less than m; wherein x is determined by oxidation state of the other elements present, and wherein the antimony has an average valency higher than +3 and the vanadium has an average valency lower than +5, wherein A includes at least 0.2 atoms of W, crystalline Sb.sub.2 O.sub.4 is present in said catalyst, and wherein the foregoing catalyst is on a specified inorganic oxide support material.

Abstract: 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. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a catalyst precursor by reacting the ion VO(O.sub.2).sup.+ in aqueous solution with an antimony compound that contains Sb having a valence of 3. In one embodiment, the VO(O.sub.2).sup.+ ion is made by reacting H.sub.2 O.sub.2 with a vanadium compound.Also disclosed is making a catalyst by drying and calcining such precursor. When the drying is effected by spray drying a new microspheroidal catalyst is produced. The catalysts useful for ammoxidation of propane are more attrition resistant than catalysts of the same empirical formula made by prior art methods.

Abstract: 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. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

Abstract: 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. Catalytic compositions useful in the process are disclosed.

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: The vapor phase dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons is achieved with a spinel of the formula AV.sub.2-x C.sub.x O.sub.4 where A is a bivalent metal, V is vanadium substantially in +3 oxidation state, C is a trivalent metal, or with a crystalline perovskite DV.sub.1-y C.sub.y O.sub.3 where D is one or more of Y, the rare earths and Bi, and V is again vanadium in +3 oxidation state.

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: Bismuth cerium molybdate catalysts promoted with alkali metal and other optional ingredients provide high yields of acrylonitrile in the ammoxidation of propylene.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for ammoxidation of paraffins containing 2-5 C atoms over a vanadium-antimony oxide catalyst, the catalyst, and a precursor slurry for making such catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed is making an inorganic crystalline vanadium III oxidic compound from a pentavalent vanadium compound, which process comprises (1) reducing a pentavalent vanadium oxidic compound to substantially the V.sup.III state by heating at 100.degree. C. or less an aqueous medium slurry or solution of said pentavalent compound containing a reducing agent selected from hydrazine and hydrocarbylhydrazine, (2) providing in said aqueous medium, either before, during or after said reducing step, other metal cations in solution in the ratio called for by the desired crystalline compound, (3) removing the liquid aqueous medium, and (4) calcining the resulting dry solid at a temperature in the range from 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. in an inert atmosphere.Also disclosed is the vapor phase catalytic dehydrogenation of paraffins using certain spinels and perovskites as catalysts.

Abstract: A method for incorporation of metals into antimony oxide to form a compound having the formulaSb.sub.100 M.sub.x A.sub.y O.sub.zwhereM is Mo, Te or both,A is V, Nb, Ta, W, Bi and mixtures thereof,x is 0.1 to 5, y is 0 to 10 and z is a number sufficient to satisfy the valence of the other elements.The method compriss mixing an antimony compound with an oxide or salt of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of M and A and heating the mixture to a temperature of up to about 850.degree. C. to produce the compound, the Sb.sub.2 O.sub.4 component of which is substantially present in the beta form. These steps are also employed in a method for converting low temperature antimony oxide into high temperature antimony oxide. High temperature antimony oxides containing Mo or Te are novel.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting methane to a higher order hydrocarbon comprising contacting a gaseous reactant comprising methane with a phosphate-containing catalyst for a sufficient period of time and at an effective temperature to provide said higher order hydrocarbon, said catalyst being represented by the formulaM.sub.x PO.sub.ywhereinM is selected from the group consisting of Pb, Bi, Sb, Sn, Tl, In, Mn, Cd, Ge or a mixture of two or more thereof,x is from about 0.1 to about 10, andy is the number of oxygens needed to fulfill the valence requirements of the other elements.