Abstract: The invention is a supported or bound heteropoly acid catalyst composition, a method of making the catalyst composition and a process for the oxidation of saturated and/or unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated carboxylic acids using the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition has a heteropoly acid component containing molybdenum, vanadium, phosphorus and cesium and support/binder having a surface area of about 0.1 m2/g to about 1.0 m2/g. The catalyst is made by dissolving compounds of the components of each of the heteropoly acid compounds in a solution, precipitating the heteropoly acid compounds, contacting the heteropoly acid compounds to form a catalyst precursor and calcining the catalyst precursor to form a heteropoly acid compound catalyst. Unsaturated aldehydes, such as methacrolein, may be oxidized in the presence of the heteropoly acid compound catalyst to produce an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as methacrylic acid.

Abstract: This invention is for a catalyst for conversion of alkanes having two to six carbon atoms per molecule to aromatics. The catalyst is a MFI zeolite with a crystallite size of less than 15 microns with, in addition to silicon and aluminum, germanium as a framework element. Platinum is deposited on the zeolite. The zeolite may contain other optional tetravalent and trivalent elements in the zeolite framework. The catalyst is synthesized by preparing a zeolite containing aluminum, silicon, germanium and, optionally, other elements in the framework, calcining the zeolite and depositing platinum on the zeolite. The catalyst may be used for aromatization of alkanes, such as propane, to aromatics, such as benzene, toluene and xylenes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the increasing the octane number of a naphtha hydrocarbon feed having a predominantly paraffin content with a germanium-containing zeolite catalyst. The catalyst is a non-acidic germanium zeolite on which a noble metal, such as platinum, has been deposited. The zeolite structure may be of MTW, MWW, MEL, TON, MRE, FER, MFI, BEA, MOR, LTL or MTT. The zeolite is made non-acidic by being base-exchanged with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, such as cesium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, barium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, to reduce acidity. The catalyst is sulfur tolerant. The hydrocarbon feed may contain sulfur up to 1000 ppm. The present invention could be applicable to a feedstream which is predominantly naphthenes and paraffins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the aromatization of C6 to C12 alkanes, such as hexane, heptane and octane, to aromatics, such as benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene and xylenes, with a germanium-containing zeolite catalyst. The catalyst is a non-acidic aluminum-silicon-germanium zeolite on which a noble metal, such as platinum, has been deposited. The zeolite structure may be of MFI, BEA, MOR, LTL or MTT. The zeolite is made non-acidic by being base-exchanged with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, such as cesium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, barium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, to reduce acidity. The catalyst is sulfur tolerant and may be pretreated with a sulfur compound, i.e., sulfided. The hydrocarbon feed may contain sulfur up to 1000 ppm. The present invention could be applicable to a feedstream which is predominantly paraffinic and/or low in naphthenes. Lowering the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio increases conversion and aromatics selectivity.

Abstract: This invention is for a catalyst for conversion of alkanes having two to six carbon atoms per molecule to aromatics. The catalyst is a MFI zeolite with a crystallite size of less than 15 microns with, in addition to silicon and aluminum, germanium as a framework element. Platinum is deposited on the zeolite. The zeolite may contain other optional tetravalent and trivalent elements in the zeolite framework. The catalyst is synthesized by preparing a zeolite containing aluminum, silicon, germanium and, optionally, other elements in the framework, calcining the zeolite and depositing platinum on the zeolite. The catalyst may be used for aromatization of alkanes, such as propane, to aromatics, such as benzene, toluene and xylenes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for regeneration of a zeolite catalyst, specifically an aluminosilicate zeolite with germanium substituted in the framework for silicon and with platinum deposited on the zeolite. The catalyst may be used in a process for aromatization of alkanes, specifically C2-C8 alkanes. The regeneration process 1) removes coke and sulfur from the catalyst via oxidation, 2) redisperses platinum on the surface of the catalyst via chlorine gas, 3) removes chlorine and bind Pt to the surface of the zeolite by steaming, 4) reduces the catalyst in hydrogen, and 5) optionally, resulfides the catalyst. The zeolite may be a MFI zeolite. The catalyst may be bound with an inert material which does not act as a binding site for platinum during the regeneration process, for example, silica.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the aromatization of C6 to C12 alkanes, such as hexane, heptane and octane, to aromatics, such as benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene and xylenes, with a germanium-containing zeolite catalyst. The catalyst is a non-acidic aluminum-silicon-germanium zeolite on which a noble metal, such as platinum, has been deposited. The zeolite structure may be of MFI, BEA, MOR, LTL or MTT. The zeolite is made non-acidic by being base-exchanged with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, such as cesium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, barium, calcium, magnesium and mixtures thereof, to reduce acidity. The catalyst is sulfur tolerant and may be pretreated with a sulfur compound, i.e., sulfided. The hydrocarbon feed may contain sulfur up to 1000 ppm. The present invention could be applicable to a feedstream which is predominantly paraffinic and/or low in naphthenes. Lowering the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio increases conversion and aromatics selectivity.

Abstract: The invention is a supported or bound heteropoly acid catalyst composition, a method of making the catalyst composition and a process for the oxidation of saturated and/or unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated carboxylic acids using the catalyst composition. The catalyst composition has a heteropoly acid component containing molybdenum, vanadium, phosphorus and cesium and support/binder having a surface area of about 0.1 m2/g to about 1.0 m2/g. The catalyst is made by dissolving compounds of the components of each of the heteropoly acid compounds in a solution, precipitating the heteropoly acid compounds, contacting the heteropoly acid compounds to form a catalyst precursor and calcining the catalyst precursor to form a heteropoly acid compound catalyst. Unsaturated aldehydes, such as methacrolein, may be oxidized in the presence of the heteropoly acid compound catalyst to produce an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as methacrylic acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for regeneration of a zeolite catalyst, specifically an aluminosilicate zeolite with germanium substituted in the framework for silicon and with platinum deposited on the zeolite. The catalyst may be used in a process for aromatization of alkanes, specifically C2-C8 alkanes. The regeneration process 1) removes coke and sulfur from the catalyst via oxidation, 2) redisperses platinum on the surface of the catalyst via chlorine gas, 3) removes chlorine and bind Pt to the surface of the zeolite by steaming, 4) reduces the catalyst in hydrogen, and 5) optionally, resulfides the catalyst. The zeolite may be a MFI zeolite. The catalyst may be bound with an inert material which does not act as a binding site for platinum during the regeneration process, for example, silica.

Abstract: A catalyst composition having the formula:

Abstract: A catalyst composition for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid having the general formula:

Abstract: Alkanes are catalytically oxidized in air or oxygen using iron-substituted polyoxoanions (POAs) of the formula:H.sub.e-z ?(n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.4 N!.sub.z (XM.sub.11 M'O.sub.39).sup.-eThe M' (e.g., iron(III)/iron(II)) reduction potential of the POAs is affected by selection of the central atom X and the framework metal M, and by the number of tetrabutyl-ammonium groups. Decreased Fe(III)/Fe(II) reduction potential has been found to correlate to increased oxidation activity.

Abstract: Good salt rejection, flux characteristics and resistance to degradation are obtained with semi-permeable reverse osmosis membranes made by coating a microporous substrate with a copolymer of a hydroxy containing methacrylic ester and methacrylic acid, and cross-linking the copolymer subsequent to deposition on the substrate.