Abstract: Catalysts for the hydrogenation of aromatic containing polymers are described. Such a catalyst can include, based on the total weight of the catalyst, 99.1 wt. % to 99.95 wt. % of a metal oxide support, and 0.05 wt. % to 0.9 wt. % of catalytic metal nanoparticles comprising platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), ruthenium (Ru), any combination thereof, or alloy thereof. The catalyst can have a specific surface area of 5 m2/g to 80 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.01 cm3/g to 0.35 cm3/g, and a catalyst median particle size of less than 300 microns. Processes to produce the catalyst and methods of hydrogenating aromatic containing polymers are also described.

Abstract: Methods for producing butadiene by the oxidative dehydrogenation of butene are provided. Methods for producing butadiene from a feed stream including oxygen and butene in a molar ratio of oxygen to butene (O2/C4H8) from about 0.9 to about 1.5 can include introducing the feed stream to a catalyst in the presence of steam. The molar ratio of steam to butene (H2O/C4H8) can be from about 10 to about 20. Methods can further include reacting the butene to generate a product stream therefrom comprising butadiene and water. Methods can further include separating water from the product stream to generate a butadiene stream including greater than about 85 wt-% butadiene.

Abstract: Methods for producing butadiene by the oxidative dehydrogenation of butene are provided. Methods for producing butadiene from a feed stream including oxygen and butene in a molar ratio of oxygen to butene (O2/C4H8) from about 0.9 to about 1.5 can include introducing the feed stream to a catalyst in the presence of steam. The molar ratio of steam to butene (H2O/C4H8) can be from about 10 to about 20. Methods can further include reacting the butene to generate a product stream therefrom comprising butadiene and water. Methods can further include separating water from the product stream to generate a butadiene stream including greater than about 85 wt-% butadiene.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions including a compound of the following general formula (I): MoVaNbbPtcMdZeOx??(I) a is a number having a value between about 0.15 and about 0.50, b is a number having a value between about 0.05 and about 0.30, c is a number having a value between about 0.0001 and about 0.10, d is a number having a value between about 0.0 and about 0.35, e is a number having a value between about 0 and about 0.10, x is a number depending on the relative amount and valence of the elements different from oxygen in formula (I), M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Te, and Sb, and Z is one or more element selected from Ru, Mn, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Y, Zr, Rh, Pd, In, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Au, Pb, B, and mixtures thereof, where the compositions are capable of simultaneously oxidizing an alkane to a desired product and by-product carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, with only a minor change in catalyst activity and selectivity.

Abstract: A method of making a dehydrogenation catalyst can comprise: combining precursors in water to form a mixture; adding base to the mixture to form a slurry having a pH of 7 to 8.5; aging the slurry at a temperature of greater than or equal to 40° C. while agitating; filtering a precipitate from the aged slurry to collect a catalyst precursor; drying and calcining the catalyst precursor to form the catalyst; wherein the catalyst has the formula (I) FeZnaCobMgcCadCleMfOx ??(I) wherein the amounts are in mole ratios relative to 1 mole of iron, “a” is 0.07 to 0.7 moles; “b” is 0.01 to 0.20 moles; “c” is less than or equal to 0.40 moles; “d” is less than or equal to 0.40 moles; “e” is less than or equal to 0.10 moles; “f” is less than or equal to 0.20 moles, and wherein greater than about 88% of the initial zinc is recovered.

Abstract: Catalyst compositions including a compound of the following general formula (I): MoVaNbbPtcMdZeOx??(I) a is a number having a value between about 0.15 and about 0.50, b is a number having a value between about 0.05 and about 0.30, c is a number having a value between about 0.0001 and about 0.10, d is a number having a value between about 0.0 and about 0.35, e is a number having a value between about 0 and about 0.10, x is a number depending on the relative amount and valence of the elements different from oxygen in formula (I), M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ag, Te, and Sb, and Z is one or more element selected from Ru, Mn, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Y, Zr, Rh, Pd, In, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ta, W, Re, Ir, Au, Pb, B, and mixtures thereof, where the compositions are capable of simultaneously oxidizing an alkane to a desired product and by-product carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, with only a minor change in catalyst activity and selectivity.

Abstract: A catalyst composition having the formula: Mo1VaSbbNbcMdOx wherein M is gallium, bismuth, silver or gold, a is 0.01 to 1, b is 0.01 to 1, c is 0.01 to 1, d is 0.01 to 1 and x is determined by the valence requirements of the other components. Other metals, such as tantalum, titanium, aluminum, zirconium, chromium, manganese, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, platinum, boron, arsenic, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, calcium, beryllium, magnesium, cerium, strontium, hafnium, phosphorus, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, terbium, ytterbium, lutetium, lanthanum, scandium, palladium, praseodymium, neodymium, yttrium, thorium, tungsten, cesium, zinc, tin, germanium, silicon, lead, barium or thallium may also be components of the catalyst. This catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of metal compounds which are calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst that can be used for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process.

Abstract: A catalyst composition having the formula: Mo1VaSbbNbcMdOx wherein M is gallium, bismuth, silver or gold, a is 0.01 to 1, b is 0.01 to 1, c is 0.01 to 1, d is 0.01 to 1 and x is determined by the valence requirements of the other components. Other metals, such as tantalum, titanium, aluminum, zirconium, chromium, manganese, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, platinum, boron, arsenic, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, calcium, beryllium, magnesium, cerium, strontium, hafnium, phosphorus, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, terbium, ytterbium, lutetium, lanthanum, scandium, palladium, praseodymium, neodymium, yttrium, thorium, tungsten, cesium, zinc, tin, germanium, silicon, lead, barium or thallium may also be components of the catalyst. This catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of metal compounds which are calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst that can be used for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a process for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process with a mixed metal oxide catalyst composition having the general formula: MoVaNbbTecSbdMeOx wherein M is optional and may be one or more selected from silver, silicon, sulfur, zirconium, titanium, aluminum, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, gallium, phosphorus, iron, rhenium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, indium, thallium, bismuth, germanium, tin, cerium or lanthanum. This catalyst may be prepared by co-precipitation of metal compounds which are calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst.

Abstract: A one-step vapor phase oxidation process produces an unsaturated carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, from an alkane, such as propane or isobutane, with a mixed metal oxide catalyst and an excess of alkane relative to oxygen. The unreacted alkane and the byproduct alkene are recycled to the reaction zone without separation. Overall yield and productivity of the unsaturated carboxylic improves for such a process. An analogous method for the preparation of unsaturated nitrites is also disclosed.