Abstract: A process for preparing N-hydroxyalkylaminomethyl-phosphonic acid or salts thereof which comprises contacting an alkanolamine, formaldehyde and a trialkyl phosphite under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction mixture, and hydrolyzing the reaction mixture under neutral, acidic or basic conditions. In one embodiment, the N-hydroxyalkylaminomethylphosphonic acid or salts thereof is catalytically oxidized to produce an N-phosphonomethylaminocarboxylic acid or salts thereof.

Abstract: A process to manufacture a carboxylic acid salt is disclosed wherein an aqueous solution of a primary alcohol is contacted with a base hydroxide in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst consisting essentially of an alkali resistant support, from about 0.05 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of an anchor metal is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and gold, and between about 1 wt. % and about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of an element selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium combined with the anchor metal.

Abstract: A process to manufacture a carboxylic acid salt is disclosed wherein an aqueous solution of a primary alcohol is contacted with a base hydroxide in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst consisting essentially of an alkali resistant support, from about 0.05 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of an anchor metal is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and gold, and between about 1 wt. % and about 50 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of an element selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, and cadmium combined with the anchor metal.

Abstract: A process for preparing N-hydroxyalkylaminomethylphosphonic acid or salts thereof which comprises contacting an alkanolamine, formaldehyde and a dialkyl phosphite in the presence of an alcohol under suitable reaction conditions to produce a reaction mixture, and hydrolyzing the reaction mixture under acidic or basic conditions. In one embodiment, the N-hydroxyalkylaminomethylphosphonic acid or salts thereof is catalytically oxidized to produce an N-phosphonomethylaminocarboxylic acid or salts thereof.

Abstract: A phosphorus vanadium oxide catalyst for the oxidation of a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon. The catalyst comprises a shaped body having a volume, or a fixed bed comprising shaped bodies having an average volume, of at least about 0.02 cc, and contains a promoter selected from among Bi, Sb, Ge, Ti, Zr, La, Ce, Ni, Zn, U, Sn, Si or mixtures thereof. The promoter is present in a proportion that enables the catalyst to have a developed surface area of at least about 28 m.sup.2 /g, and to exhibit a weight/area productivity of at least about 3.5 mg maleic anhydride/m.sup.2 -hr and/or a weight/weight productivity of at least about 100 g maleic anhydride/kg.cat.-hr. when contacted with a gas containing 2.4% by volume n-butane in air, at a gas flow volume to catalyst weight ratio of 2180 cc/g-min., under a pressure of 1.055.times.10.sup.2 -kPa-G, and at a temperature sufficient to maintain a hydrocarbon conversion of 85 mole percent. Methods for the preparation of the catalyst include activation by ANST.

Abstract: An activated porous phosphorus/vanadium oxide catalyst adapted for the catalytic oxidation of a hydrocarbon to produce a carboxylic acid anhydride. The catalyst comprises shaped bodies having a B.E.T. surface area of at least about 15 m.sup.2 /g, an average vanadium oxidation state of between about 4.0 and about 4.5, a total pore volume of at least about 0.15 cc/g, a normalized apparent shaped body density of between about 1.25 and about 2.0 g/cc, and a crush strength of at least about 4 pounds. At least about 5% of the pore volume of the catalyst is constituted of pores having a diameter of at least about 0.8 microns, and at least about 4% of the pore volume is constituted of pores having a diameter of at least about 10 microns.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for carrying out and studying catalysis and catalyzed chemical reactions. Disclosed is a reactor with a catalyst zone, under vacuum, into which a very rapid pulse of reactant gas is pulsed. The products are analyzed by a real-time method of analysis, such as mass spectrometry. The apparatus and method can detect reaction intermediates and products, and can indicate their sequence of production.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the manufacture of maleic anhydride by catalytic oxidation of n-butane in the presence of trimethyl phosphate over a fixed bed vanadium phosphorus oxide catalyst in a tubular reactor. The trimethyl phosphate content of the gas entering the reactor within a range of between about (0.9) N and about (1.1) N where N is a normative concentration of trimethyl phosphate in ppm as determined by the following relationship:N+5.times.C.sub.4 +6.times.(H.sub.2 O-2.4)+0.75.times.(CONV-c)+(SV/(25.times.P.sub.in))where:C.sub.4 .times.the mole % of n-butane in the gas entering the reactor;H.sub.2 O.times.the mole % moisture in the gas entering the reactor;CONV.times.% butane conversion in the reactor;SV.times.gas hourly space velocity of the gas at the inlet of the reactor, reduced to one atmosphere pressure and 60.degree. F.;P.sub.in .times.the pressure at the inlet of the reactor (psig); andc.times.84-0.05[(SV.times.C.sub.4)/P.sub.

Abstract: Shaped oxidation catalyst structures containing catalytic material comprised of mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus which are useful for the production of maleic anhydride via the partial oxidation of nonaromatic hydrocarbons, particularly n-butane, in the vapor phase with molecular oxygen or a molecular oxygen-containing gas are provided. Such structures are characterized by exhibiting (a) a geometric volume of from about 30 percent to about 67 percent of that exhibited by the void space-free solid geometric form, (b) an external geometric surface area/geometric volume ratio of at least about 20 cm.sup.-1, (c) a bulk density of from about 0.4 g/cm.sup.3 to about 1.4 g/cm.sup.3, and (d) a mechanical resistance sufficient to maintain substantially the structural integrity of the shaped structure under handling and use conditions.

Abstract: Vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalysts comprising vanadyl pyrophosphate, optionally containing a promoter component, are transformed from vanadium/phosphorus mixed oxide catalyst precursors comprising vanadyl hydrogen phosphate, optionally containing a promoter component, by subjecting the catalyst precursors to elevated temperatures in three stages--(a) an initial heat-up stage in an atmosphere selected from the group consisting of air, steam, an inert gas, and mixtures thereof, (b) a rapid heat-up stage at a programmed heat-up rate in a molecular oxygen/steam-containing atmosphere, and (c) a maintenance/finishing stage, first in a molecular oxygen/-steam-containing atmosphere, and thereafter in a nonoxidizing, steam-containing atmosphere. Such catalysts are useful for the production of maleic anhydride via the partial oxidation of nonaromatic hydrocarbons, particularly n-butane, in the vapor phase with molecular oxygen or a molecular oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus adapted for use in a temporal analysis of products (TAP) system for studying catalytic reactions, a catalytic reactor provided with heat exchange capability and useful in the TAP system, and an apparatus for use in gas processing which can also be used in a TAP system. The gas processing apparatus includes a manifold for introduction of a plurality of gases into a gas processing system. The manifold comprises a plurality of channels through which gas may flow toward the gas processing system, and a mixing chamber having an inlet in communication with the plurality of channels and an outlet in communication with the gas processing system. At least one of the channels has a rapidly operable feed valve at the terminus of the channel at which it communicates with the chamber inlet. The mixing chamber has a void volume that is small relative to the working volume of the gas processing system.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for carrying out and studying catalysis and catalyzed chemical reactions. Disclosed is a reactor with a catalyst zone, under vacuum, into which a very rapid pulse of reactant gas is pulsed. The products are analyzed by a real-time method of analysis, such as mass spectrometry. The apparatus and method can detect reaction intermediates and products, and can indicate their sequence of production.

Abstract: A process for oxidation and ammoxidation of hydrocarbons using catalysts having the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a V.sub.b Sb.sub.c O.sub.xwherein a is from 0.5-2, b is from 0.12-3, c is from 0.12 to 10, d is 0-0.5 and x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present. M is one or more elements selected from Groups I-A, II-A, III-A, V-A, VI-A, I-B, IV-B, VI-B and VII-B of the Periodic Table.The catalyst is prepared by forming a slurry of vanadium antimonate component, a bismuth molybdate component, and optionally the compound M and/or a support material, drying the slurry, and calcining to form the catalyst.The process is useful for production of acrylonitrile from propylene, ammonia, and an oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: A process for the ammoxidation of methanol or formaldehyde to hydrogen cyanide or oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using a catalyst comprising boron and phosphorus oxides, wherein the boron to phosphorus atomic ratio is 0.8:1 to 1.25:1.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing acrylonitrile by reacting at an elevated temperature in the vapor phase propylene, ammonia, and molecular oxygen over a specific catalyst. The catalyst has the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a V.sub.b Sb.sub.c M.sub.d O.sub.xwherein a is from 0.5 to 2, b is from 0.01 to 0.12, c is from 0.01 to 10, d is from 0 to 0.5, and x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present. M is one or more elements selected from Groups I-A, II-A, III-A, V-A, VI-A, I-B, IV-B, VI-B, and VII-B of the Periodic Table. The catalyst is prepared by forming a slurry of a vanadium component, an antimony component, a hydrophilic bismuth molybdate component having the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a O.sub.x.Y(H.sub.2 O)wherein a is from 0.5 to 2, x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present and Y is a number such that the bound water is 5 to 40 weight percent of the total component.

Abstract: A process for the ammoxidation of methanol or formaldehyde to hydrogen cyanide or oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using a catalyst comprising manganese and phosphorus, preferably as oxides, wherein the manganese to phosphorus atomic ratio is 1:1 to 1.5:1.

Abstract: Catalysts useful for the oxidation and ammoxidation of alcohols containing the elements iron and molybdenum in a catalytically active oxidized state exhibit improved selectivity and yield upon being activated by contacting calcined catalyst particles sequentially with a molecular oxygen-free reducing gas and an oxygen-containing gas at catalyst activating conditions. These activated catalysts are especially useful for the production of hydrogen cyanide from methanol, ammonia, and an oxygen-containing gas.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are catalysts useful for oxidation and ammoxidation of hydrocarbons. Such catalysts have the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a V.sub.b Sb.sub.c M.sub.d O.sub.xwherein a is 0.5-2, b is 0.01-0.12, c is 0.01-10, d is 0-0.5 and x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present. In such catalysts, M is one or more elements selected from Groups I-A, II-A, III-A, V-A, VI-A, I-B, IV-B, VI-B and VII-B of the Periodic Table.Catalysts according to the invention are prepared by forming a slurry of a vanadium component, an antimony component, a hydrophilic bismuth molybdate component having the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a O.sub.x. Y(H.sub.2 O)wherein a is 0.5-2, x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the bismuth and molybdenum and Y is a number such that the bound water is 5 to 40 weight percent of the total component, and optionally, the compound M and/or a support material, drying the slurry, and calcining to form the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are catalysts useful for oxidation and ammoxidation of hydrocarbons. Such catalysts have the empirical formulaBiMo.sub.a V.sub.b Sb.sub.c M.sub.d O.sub.xwherein a is 0.5-2, b is 0.12-3, c is 0.12-10, d is 0-0.5 and x is selected to satisfy the valence requirements of the other elements present. In such catalysts, M is one or more elements selected from Groups I-A, II-A, III-A, V-A, VI-A, I-B, IV-B, VI-B and VII-B of the Periodic Table.Catalysts according to the invention are prepared by forming a slurry of vanadium antimonate component, a bismuth molybdate component, and optionally the compound M and/or a support material, drying the slurry, and calcining to form the catalyst.Such catalysts are specifically useful for production of acrylonitrile from propylene, ammonia and an oxygen-containing gas.