Abstract: The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein oxygen, water and the alkane and/or alkene are fed to a reactor and are contacted with a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium in the reactor, and wherein the molar ratio of water as fed to the reactor to oxygen as fed to the reactor is smaller than 1:1.

Abstract: A monomer is added to a solvent containing metal salt and porous support materials and the solvent is stirred for a period of time to distribute and fix the metal in the pores of the support materials. The solids that are dispersed in the solvent are then separated from the liquid, dried and calcined to form heterogeneous catalysts. The monomer that is added is of a type that can be polymerized in the solvent to form oligomers or polymers, or both. When forming heterogeneous catalysts containing platinum, acrylic acid is selected as the preferred monomer.

Abstract: Acetic acid and/or vinyl acetate are produced by an integrated process which comprises the steps: (a) contacting in a first reaction zone a gaseous feedstock comprising ethylene and/or ethane and optionally steam with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst active for the oxidation of ethylene to acetic acid and/or ethane to acetic acid and ethylene to produce a first product stream comprising acetic acid, water and ethylene (either as unreacted ethylene and/or as co-produced ethylene) and optionally also ethane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen; (b) contacting in a second reaction zone in the presence or absence of additional ethylene and/or acetic acid at least a portion of the first gaseous product stream comprising at least acetic acid and ethylene and optionally also one or more of water, ethane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst active for the production of vinyl acetate to produce

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst by (a) selecting a carrier which is a silica based carrier which has been subjected to a series of washings with one or more aqueous liquids consisting of aqueous liquids which have a pH of least 3, when measured at 20° C., or which is a silica based carrier which is formed from materials one or more of which have been subjected to this series of washings, (b) precipitating a Group 8 metal compound onto the carrier, (c) converting the precipitated Group 8 metal compound into metallic species, and (d) subjecting the Group 8 metal/carrier composition to a purification treatment, before or after step (c); a catalyst which is obtainable by this process; and a process for preparing an alkenyl carboxylate by reacting a mixture comprising an olefin, a carboxylic acid and oxygen in the presence of the catalyst.

Abstract: Alkenes, unsaturated saturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic acids and their higher analogues are prepared cumulatively from corresponding alkanes utilizing using a multi-staged catalyst system and a multi-stage process which comprises steam cracking of alkanes to corresponding alkenes at flame temperatures and at short contact times in combination with one or more oxidation catalysts for catalytically converting the corresponding alkenes to further corresponding oxygenated products using short contact time reactor conditions.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and the corresponding alkene and optionally, water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid and water, wherein in said process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the concentrations of the alkene and optional water in said oxidation reaction zone and optionally by also controlling one or more of the pressure, temperature and residence time of the oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of vinyl acetate or ethyl acetate.

Abstract: A method for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester which utilizes a steam system permitting stable production of an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester and realizing a high thermal efficiency constantly relative to the waste heat generated in the process of the production is provided. More particularly, this invention concerns a method for the production of an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester, wherein heat generated in the process for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester is recovered in the form of steam, and the steam is used in any of the following forms: {circle around (1)} thermal energy, {circle around (2)} dynamic energy, and {circle around (3)} electrical energy in the process for producing an organic acid and/or an organic acid ester.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst by

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and optionally, at least one of the corresponding alkene and water, in the presence of at least two catalysts each active, with different selectivities, for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising said alkene, carboxylic acid and water, and in which process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the relative proportions of the at least two catalysts in said oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of ethyl acetate or vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and optionally, at least one of the corresponding alkene and water, in the presence of at least two catalysts each active, with different selectivities, for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising said alkene, carboxylic acid and water, and in which process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the relative proportions of the at least two catalysts in said oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of ethyl acetate or vinyl acetate.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for heat exchange with fluid beds comprises heat-exchange tubes located longitudinally with respect to the axis of a fluidization zone with a rectangular pitch, one side of which having a length at least one and a half times the length of the other side and/or with a triangular pitch, having two sides each at least one and a half times the length of the shortest side reduces the impact of the heat-exchange tubes on the fluidization characteristics of the fluid bed. The invention is particularly suitable for oxidation reactions using molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a fluid bed of fluidizable catalyst, such as (a) the acetoxylation of olefins, (b) the oxidation of ethylene to acetic acid and/or the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and/or acetic acid, (c) the ammoxidation of propylene and/or propane to acrylonitrile and (d) the oxidation of C4's to maleic anhydride.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a catalyst containing one or several metals from the group of metals comprising the sub-groups Ib and VIIIb of the periodic table on porous support particles, characterized by a first step in which one or several precursors from the group of compounds of metals from sub-groups Ib and VIIIb of the periodic table is or are applied to a porous support, and a second step in which the porous, preferably nanoporous support to which at least one precursor has been applied is treated with at least one reduction agent, to obtain the metal nanoparticles produced in situ in the pores of said support.

Abstract: A process for reacting in a fluid bed reactor at least one oxidisable reactant with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytically active fluidised bed of solid particles. In the process a molecular oxygen-containing gas having an oxygen concentration greater than that of air is introduced into the fluidised bed whilst the fluidised bed is maintained in a turbulent regime. The process is suitable for oxidation, ammoxidation and carboxylation processes, including the production of maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, ethylene, acetic acid and vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process is proposed for preparing C5 acetate for Vitamin A synthesis by hydroformylation of 3,4-diacetoxybut-1-ene (3,4-DABE), according to which a 3,4-DABE is used which is obtained by acetoxylation of 1,3-butadiene with acetic acid and air in the presence of a catalyst and removing by distillation the 3,4-DABE formed in this case as by-product.

Abstract: A catalytically active material useful to prepare vinyl acetate monomer from ethylene, acetic acid, and an oxygen-containing gas under fluid bed conditions comprises a porous microspheroidal support containing catalytically active palladium crystallites finely dispersed within the support. This catalyst material does not require incorporation of gold to maintain activity and selectivity. A process to produce a vinyl acetate fluid bed catalyst in which catalytically active small palladium crystallites are finely dispersed within the support comprises dispersing selected metal species within the support which have an affinity to palladium to form very fine crystallites of palladium. The affinity metal species may be dispersed by impregnation onto a preformed microspheroidal support or may be intimately incorporated within the support before impregnation with a soluble palladium species.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and optionally, at least one of the corresponding alkene and water, in the presence of at least two catalysts each active, with different selectivities, for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising said alkene, carboxylic acid and water, and in which process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the relative proportions of the at least two catalysts in said oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of ethyl acetate or vinyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of a C2 to C4 alkane to produce the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid which process comprises contacting in an oxidation reaction zone, said alkane, molecular oxygen-containing gas, and the corresponding alkene and optionally, water, in the presence of at least one catalyst active for the oxidation of the alkane to the corresponding alkene and carboxylic acid, to produce a product stream comprising alkene, carboxylic acid and water, wherein in said process the molar ratio of alkene to carboxylic acid produced in said oxidation reaction zone is adjusted or maintained at a pre-determined value by controlling the concentrations of the alkene and optional water in said oxidation reaction zone and optionally by also controlling one or more of the pressure, temperature and residence time of the oxidation reaction zone. Such an oxidation process may be used in an integrated process, such as for the manufacture of vinyl acetate or ethyl acetate.

Abstract: 1.

Abstract: A process for the fluid bed production of vinyl acetate which comprises reacting ethylene, acetic acid and an oxygen-containing gas in a fluid bed reactor at elevated temperature in the presence of a fluidised bed of catalyst, in which process, catalyst is added to said fluidised bed of catalyst, wherein the overall catalytic activity of the fluidised bed of catalyst is controlled to a pre-determined value by adjusting the activity and/or adjusting the rate of addition of said added catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst composition and its use for the oxidation of ethane to ethylene and/or acetic acid and/or for the oxidation of ethylene to acetic acid which comprises in combination with oxygen the elements molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and gold in the absence of palladium according to the empirical formula: MOaWbAucVdNbeYf (I) wherein Y is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of: Cr, Mn, Ta, Ti, B, Al, Ga, In, Pt, Zn, Cd, Bi, Ce, Co, Rh, Ir, Cu, Ag, Fe, Ru, Os, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zr, Hf, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Tl, U, Re, Te, La and Pd; a, b, c, d, e and f represent the gram atom ratios of the elements such that: 0<a≦1; 0≦b<1 and a+b=1; 10−5<c≦0.02; 0<d<2; 0<e≦1; and 0≦f≦2.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a fluid bed vinyl acetate (VAM) catalyst comprising impregnating a support comprising a mixture of substantially inert microspheroidal particles with a solution comprising a metal salt of Pd and M, wherein M comprises Ba, Cd, Au, La, Nb, Ce, Zn, Pb, Ca, Sr, Sb or mixtures thereof, reducing the metal salts to form a deposit of Pd and M on the support surface and impregnating the support with at least one alkali metal salt. At least 50% of the particles used for the microspheroidal support have a particle size below 105 microns.

Abstract: A tertiary olefin such as isobutylene is reacted with a lower unsaturated carboxylic acid to produce the ester in the presence of a large pore zeolite catalyst such as Zeolite Y, Zeolite beta or Zeolite X, the reaction can be illustrated by the equation