Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids or unsaturated nitriles by vapor phase oxidation reaction of their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, C3 to C5 alkenes, and mixtures thereof, as a hydrocarbon starting material, wherein the process performance is monitored and the path of gasses through catalyst beds is altered. Improved catalyst lifetimes may be achieved.

Abstract: The amount of propionic acid produced in the process of oxidizing propane to acrylic acid is reduced by using a reactor with a length/diameter ratio >10 and/or maintaining the difference between the target reaction temperature and the peak temperature within the reactor to less than 20° C.

Abstract: A process comprising catalytically converting ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the presence of oxygen at a temperature of 450° C. or less in the gas phase wherein the catalyst has the empirical formula MoVaNbbTecZdOn.

Abstract: A process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids or unsaturated nitriles by vapor phase oxidation reaction of their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, C3 to C5 alkenes, and mixtures thereof, as a hydrocarbon starting material, wherein the process performance is monitored and the path of gasses through catalyst beds is altered. Improved catalyst lifetimes may be achieved.

Abstract: The application concerns a process comprising: (A) contacting a gas comprising oxygen, propane and propylene with at least one catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to at least partially convert the propylene into a final product comprising acrylic acid; (B) feeding said final product to a separation column, in which the final product is split into a liquid stream, which is rich in acrylic acid, and a gaseous by-product stream comprising propane and propylene in a volume ratio of from 99.9:0.1 to 95:5; (C) contacting the gaseous by-product stream with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to at least partially convert propane to acrylic acid.

Abstract: The amount of propionic acid produced in the process of oxidizing propane to acrylic acid is reduced by using a reactor with a length/diameter ratio >10 and/or maintaining the difference between the target reaction temperature and the peak temperature within the reactor to less than 20° C.

Abstract: Less propionic acid is produced as a by-product in a process for the direct oxidation of propane to acrylic acid, the process comprising the step of contacting under oxidation conditions a gaseous mixture comprising (i) propane, (ii) oxygen, (iii) steam and (iv) a diluent gas, with a propane oxidation catalyst by reducing the steam content of the gaseous mixture.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of ethylene and carbon monoxide by contacting ethane and an oxygen source at a temperature of at least 500° C. to produce ethylene and carbon monoxide. A method for producing an alkyl propionate by steps of: (a) contacting ethane and an oxygen source at a temperature of at least 500° C. to produce ethylene; (b) contacting an alcohol, ethylene and carbon monoxide with an ethylene carbonylation catalyst to produce the alkyl propionate; and (c) separating the alkyl propionate from byproducts and starting materials. The method further comprises condensing the alkyl propionate with formaldehyde to produce an alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved alkane (amm)oxidation process in which sulfur-bearing impurities present in the alkane feedstock are removed upstream from the (amm)oxidation reaction.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitriles from their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, or mixtures of C3 to C5 alkanes and alkenes, that involves oxidation in the presence of a supported Mo—V-based mixed metal oxide catalyst in a multi-stage reaction system which employs both separation of the oxidation product from one or more intermediate effluent streams, as well as feeding additional oxygen to reaction zones subsequent to the first reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of ethylene and carbon monoxide by contacting ethane and an oxygen source with a catalyst comprising synthetic cryptomelane or octahedral molecular sieve. The method further comprises condensing the alkyl propionate with formaldehyde to produce an alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of ethylene and carbon monoxide by contacting ethane and an oxygen source with a catalyst comprising synthetic cryptomelane or octahedral molecular sieve. The method further comprises condensing the alkyl propionate with formaldehyde to produce an alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated process for producing unsaturated carboxylic acids from the corresponding C2-C4 alkane. The process begins with integrated catalytic reactions comprising endothermic soft oxidant conversion (SOC) and exothermic selective hydrogen combustion (SHC) which cumulatively convert a C2-C4 alkane to its corresponding C2-C4 alkene in a product stream substantially free of hydrogen. Heat from the exothermic selective hydrogen combustion reaction zone is recovered and recycled back upstream to the endothermic soft oxidant conversion reaction zone. The hydrogen-free alkene products of the thermally integrated SOC/SHC reactions are then provided to a catalytic vapor phase partial oxidation process for conversion of the alkene to the corresponding unsaturated carboxylic acid or nitrile. Unreacted alkene and carbon dioxide are recovered from the oxidation product stream and recycled back to the thermally integrated soft oxidant conversion reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermally integrated multi-zone process for conversion of alkanes to their corresponding alkenes, involving endothermically converting an alkane to its corresponding alkene by soft oxidant conversion in an endothermic reaction zone, in the presence of a weak oxidant, a suitable catalyst, and heat, to produce an intermediate product gas comprising the corresponding alkene and hydrogen. The weak oxidant may be, for example, carbon dioxide. The hydrogen is then removed from the intermediate product gas by contacting the intermediate product gas, in an exothermic reaction zone, with different second catalyst, and oxygen, to combust the hydrogen and produce a heated product stream comprising the corresponding alkene, water and heat. Heat is recovered from the heated product stream and recycled back to the endothermic reaction zone, while the resulting cooled product stream comprising the corresponding alkene may be subjected to further reaction and/or processing.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of propane to propene is disclosed wherein a silica chromium catalyst composition is contacted with a propane feed stream and a carbon dioxide. The silica chromium catalyst composition is further disclosed wherein the composition, optionally, includes a promoter component.

Abstract: An improved process for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids and unsaturated nitrites from their corresponding C3 to C5 alkanes, or mixtures of C3 to C5 alkanes and alkenes, that involves a multi-stage reaction system which employs both separation of the oxidation product from one or more intermediate effluent streams, as well as feeding additional oxygen to reaction zones subsequent to the first reaction zone.

Abstract: A mixed metal oxide, which may be an orthorhombic phase material, is regenerated, selectively enriched or selectively poisoned as a catalyst to reduce catalyst aging for the production of unsaturated carboxylic acids, or unsaturated nitrites, from alkanes, or mixtures of alkanes and alkenes, by contacting said mixed metal oxide with a an oxidizing gas such as oxygen, air, steam and combinations thereof is permitted to flow through the catalyst in a regenerator at a temperature of from 300° C. to 600° C. to form said regenerated catalyst.

Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of ethylene and carbon monoxide by contacting ethane and an oxygen source with a catalyst comprising iron oxide supported on an inorganic material to produce ethylene and carbon monoxide. A method for producing an alkyl propionate by steps of: (a) contacting ethane and an oxygen source at a temperature of at least 600° C. to produce ethylene; (b) contacting an alcohol, ethylene and carbon monoxide with an ethylene carbonylation catalyst to produce the alkyl propionate; and (c) separating the alkyl propionate from byproducts and starting materials. The method further comprises condensing the alkyl propionate with formaldehyde to produce an alkyl methacrylate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the selective reduction of propionic acid, hereinafter “PA”, impurity from an acrylic acid, hereinafter “AA” stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved alkane (amm)oxidation process in which sulfur-bearing impurities present in the alkane feedstock are removed upstream from the (amm)oxidation reaction.