Abstract: A method of improving the operation a dehydrogenation reactor system having a dehydrogenation reactor defining a dehydrogenation reaction zone and containing a first volume of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The method comprises removing from the dehydrogenation reactor at least a portion of the first volume of the dehydrogenation catalyst; placing in the dehydrogenation reactor having removed therefrom the at least a portion of the first volume a second volume of a high stability dehydrogenation catalyst to thereby provide a second dehydrogenation reactor system; operating the second dehydrogenation reactor system under a dehydrogenation reaction condition; and controlling the dehydrogenation reaction condition so as to provide a desired deactivation rate of the high stability dehydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: The invention is a base-modified clay that selectively catalyzes the formation of a glycol monoester from an aldehyde. The base-modified clay comprises a clay having secluded conjugate base sites and exchangeable interstitial cationic spaces. In the base-modified clay, the interstitial hydroxyl groups have been converted to oxide sites, at least one structural hydroxyl group has been converted to an oxide site. The base-modified clay contains sufficient conjugate base cations to balance the charge of said oxide groups. Processes for preparing the base-modified clay are described. The invention also provides a process for preparing a glycol monoester. This process includes heating in a reaction vessel an aldehyde and a catalytic amount of the base-modified clay under conditions sufficient to produce a glycol monoester.

Abstract: Described is a method for operating and shutting down a dehydrogenation reactor that contains a volume of dehydrogenation catalyst. After termination of the introduction of a dehydrogenation feed into the dehydrogenation reactor that is operated under dehydrogenation reaction conditions, a first cooling fluid comprising steam is introduced into the reactor for a first time period sufficient to cool the dehydrogenation catalyst contained in the dehydrogenation reactor to a second temperature. The introduction of the first cooling fluid is terminated followed by the introduction of a second cooling fluid for a second time period sufficient to cool the dehydrogenation catalyst contained in the dehydrogenation reactor to a third temperature that allows for the handling and removal of the dehydrogenation catalyst from the dehydrogenation reactor.