Abstract: A shell impregnated catalyst for use in the production of vinyl acetate from ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen containing gas is provided. The catalyst has a productivity of greater than 661 grams of vinyl acetate per hour per liter of catalyst at 150.degree. C. and consists essentially of:(1) a catalyst support having a particle diameter from about 3 to about 7 mm and a pore volume of 0.2 to 1.5 ml per gram(2) palladium and gold distributed in the outermost 1.0 mm thick layer of the catalyst support particles, and(3) from about 3.5 to 9.5% by weight of potassium acetate.The catalyst is characterised by having a gold to palladium weight ratio in the range 0.60 to 1.25.

Abstract: A catalyst for the production of ethylene and/or acetic acid by oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising the elements A, X and Y in the combination with oxygen, the gram-atom ratios of the elements A:X:Y being a:b:c;wherein A=Mo.sub.d Re.sub.e W.sub.f ; X=Cr, Mn, Nb, Ta, Ti, V and/or W; Y=Bi, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl and/or U; a=1; b=0 to 2; c=0 to 2; d+e+f+a; d is either zero or greater than zero; e is greater than zero; and f is either zero or greater than zero.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the production of ethylene and/or acetic acid by oxidation of ethane and/or ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising the elements A, X and Y in combination with oxygen, the gram-atom ratios of the elements A:X:Y being a:b:c, wherein A=Mo.sub.d Re.sub.e W.sub.f ; X=Cr, Mn, Nb, Ta, Ti, V and/or W; Y=Bi, Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl and/or U; a=1; b=0 to 2; c=0 to 2; d+e+f=a; d is either zero or greater than zero; e is greater than zero; and f is either zero or greater than zero.

Abstract: A shell impregnated catalyst for use in the production of vinyl acetate from ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen containing gas is provided. The catalyst has a productivity of greater than 661 grams of vinyl acetate per hour per liter of catalyst at 150.degree. C. and consists essentially of:(1) a catalyst support having a particle diameter from about 3 to about 7 mm and a pore volume of 0.2 to 1.5 ml per gram(2) palladium and gold distributed in the outermost 1.0 mm thick layer of the catalyst support particles, and(3) from about 3.5 to 9.5% by weight of potassium acetate.The catalyst is characterized by having a gold to palladium weight ratio in the range 0.60 to 1.25.

Abstract: Catalyst composition comprising an alloy of at least one noble metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table and at least one metal capable of alloying with the group VIII noble metal, admixed with a component comprising at least one of the metals rhenium, tungsten or molybdenum, used for producing an alcohol and/or a carboxylic acid ester by reacting hydrogen with a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof.

Abstract: An improved catalyst comprising a Group VIII noble metal, such as palladium, and rhenium is supported on a high surface area graphitized carbon. In an embodiment the Group VIII metal, e.g., palladium, has an average crystallite size in the range from 30 to 150 Angstroms. A process for making a catalyst is provided in which a support is impregnated with a solution of a Group VIII metal compound, the solvent is removed and the Group VIII metal impregnated support is impregnated with a solution of a rhenium compound using a solvent in which the Group VIII metal compound is insoluble, and thereafter the solvent is removed.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced from acetic acid or propanol is produced from propionic acid by contacting either acetic acid or propionic acid in the vapor phase with hydrogen at elevated temperature and a pressure in the range from 1 to 150 bar in the presence of a catalyst comprising as essential components (i) a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and (ii) rhenium, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon.

Abstract: An alcohol and/or a carboxylic acid ester is produced from a carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof by reacting the acid or anhyride with hydrogen at elevated temperature in the presence as catalyst of a composition comprising an alloy of (i) at least one noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and (ii) at least one metal capable of alloying with the Group VIII noble metal, optionally including a support and at least one of the metals rhenium, tungsten or molybdenum. The process is particularly applicable to the hydrogenation of monobasic acids, for example acetic acid, and the hydrogenation of maleic acid or maleic anhydride to gamma-butyrolactone.

Abstract: An alcohol and/or a carboxylic acid ester is (are) produced from a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 carboxylic acid by contacting the carboxylic acid at elevated temperature and pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst characterized in that the catalyst comprises a first component which is either molybdenum or tungsten and a second component which is a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon.

Abstract: Ethanol is produced from acetic acid or propanol is produced from propionic acid by contacting either acetic acid or propionic acid in the vapor phase with hydrogen at elevated temperature and a pressure in the range from 1 to 150 bar in the presence of a catalyst comprising as essential components (i) a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, and (II) rhenium, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon.

Abstract: An alcohol and/or a carboxylic acid ester is (are) produced from a C.sub.2 to C.sub.12 carboxylic acid by contacting the carboxylic acid at elevated temperature and pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst characterized in that the catalyst comprises a first component which is either molybdenum or tungsten and a second component which is a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements, optionally on a support, for example a high surface area graphitized carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the vapour phase hydrogenation of carboxylic acid esters to give alcohols. More particularly, this invention pertains to a process for the production of an alcohol by hydrogenation of an ester with a hydrogenation catalyst comprising a Group VIII element, a promoter, and a carbon support. This process is characterized in that (1) the Group VIII element is ruthenium, nickel, or rhodium, (2) the promoter is introduced on to the carbon as a water stable compound of Group IA, IIA metal, a lanthanide or actinide, and (3) the carbon has a BET surface area of at least 100 m.sup.2 /g, and a ratio of BET to basal plane surface area not greater than 4:1, and (4) the hydrogenation is carried out in the vapor phase at a temperature in the range 100.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. at a total space velocity of 100 to 120,000.