Abstract: The invention relates to a novel mixed ion and electron conducting catalytic ceramic membrane and to its use in hydrocarbon oxidation and or hydrogenation processes, the membrane consists of two layers, layer 1 which is an impervious mixed ion and electron conducting ceramic layer and layer 2 which is a porous catalyst-containing ion conducting ceramic layer.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons such as ethylbenzene are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron catalyst in the presence of steam. The reaction mixture containing unconverted ethylbenzene, styrene, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst in a second zone whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized to the substantial exclusion of oxidation of the hydrocarbon. The selective oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA composited on a porous inorganic support such as alumina.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation catalyst containing iron and promoted with potassium and cerium has been shown to have improved activity when a copper compound is added thereto as a component. The improvement in activity is obtained without substantially sacrificing selectivity.

Abstract: A novel process is disclosed for the steam dehydrogenation of dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons in the vapor phase in conjunction with oxidative reheating of the intermediate products. The process utilizes a single catalyst to perform both the selective oxidation and steam dehydrogenation functions. The particular catalyst employed comprises a Group VIII noble metal component, a Group IA and/or a Group IIA component and may contain among other modifiers a Group IIIA or IVA metal, and a halogen component. The catalytic components are supported on an inorganic substrate such as alumina.

Abstract: A novel catalytic composite comprising a platinum group metal component; a modifier metal component selected from the group consisting of a tin component, germanium component, rhenium component and mixtures thereof; an optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component or mixtures thereof, an optional halogen component, and an optional catalytic modifier component on a refractory oxide support having a nominal diameter of at least about 850 microns. The distribution of the platinum group metal component is such that the platinum group component is surface-impregnated where substantially all of the platinum group metal component is located at most within a 400 micron exterior layer of the support. The effective amount of the modifier metal component is uniformly dispersed throughout the refractory oxide support.

Abstract: More efficient mixing, more complete hydrogen consumption, and more thorough cooling of a dehydrogenation zone effluent is obtained by educting a portion of the dehydrogenation effluent from the reaction and externally cooling the withdrawn effluent in a heat exchanger and externally admixing the withdrawn effluent with an oxygen-containing stream. Eduction of the hydrogenation effluent by the oxygen-containing stream provides the necessary pressure drop for passing the dehydrogenation effluent through the heat exchanger and then admixing the effluent and oxygen-containing stream.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes to unsaturated hydrocarbons is carried out over metal vanadate catalysts under oxidizing conditions. The vanadate catalysts are represented by the formulas M.sub.3 (VO.sub.4).sub.2 and MV.sub.2 O.sub.6, M representing Mg, Zn, Ca, Pb, or Cd. The reaction is carried out in the presence of oxygen, but the formation of oxygenate by-products is suppressed.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising a modified iron catalyst in the presence of steam in a multicatalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with an oxidation catalyst whereby hydrogen is selectively oxidized. The selective oxidation catalyst which is used will comprise a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA composited on a porous inorganic support. The inorganic support will comprise an alumina precursor which possesses and ABD less than about 0.6 g/cc, a pore volume greater than about 0.5 cc/g, and a pore distribution such that between 10% and 70% of the pore volume is present as pores whose diameters are greater than about 300 Angstroms. After peptizing and calcination at a temperature of about 900.degree.

Abstract: The invention is an improved method and apparatus for recovering waste heat from a low temperature process stream by means of a vaporizable heat sink liquid, characterized by an effective lowering of the boiling temperature of the heat sink liquid without need to reduce its boiling pressure. The heat sink liquid essentially comprises a mixture of two immiscible liquids that form a low boiling azeotrope. The heat sink liquid is brought into indirect heat exchange with the low temperature process stream for heat extraction. The invention involves simultaneous boiling of the two immiscible liquids to suppress the temperature of the heat sink liquid to below the low temperature of the process stream, whereby the heat sink liquid is able to recover heat from the process stream. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat sink liquid comprises the reactants that are fed to a reactor, and the low temperature process stream is the reaction effluent from the reactor.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction by treating the hydrocarbons in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an alkaline metal-promoted iron compound. The effluent is then subjected to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogenation produced from the first reaction is oxidized in preference to the dehydrogenated and unconverted hydrocarbons. The catalyst which is used to effect this selective oxidation comprises a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The present invention is concerned with the use of a cerium-containing alumina as a support for this selective oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A solid composition of matter consisting essentially of:(a) a component comprising: (1) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA metals and compounds containing said metals and (2), optionally, at least one material selected from the group consisting of tin, compounds containing tin, chloride ions and compounds containing said chloride ions and(b) a component comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group IIA metals and compounds containing said metals.The composition is particularly useful as a contact material for the oxidative conversion of less valuable organic compounds to more valuable organic compounds, particularly in the presence of a free oxygen containing gas.

Abstract: Oxidative dehydrogenation of organic compounds in vapor phase with catalysts comprising crystalline compositions of iron, oxygen and at least one other metallic element. Preferred catalysts are ferrites.

Abstract: Unsaturated hydrocarbons may be prepared by subjecting dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon to dehydrogenation in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst. The effluent stream from this step, comprising unconverted hydrocarbons, dehydrogenated hydrocarbons, hydrogen and steam, may then be passed to a selective oxidation step in which the hydrogen is selectively oxidized in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas to the substantial exclusion of the oxidation of the hydrocarbons. The oxidation catalyst which is employed will comprise a Group VIII noble metal, a Group IVA metal and a Group IA or IIA metal composited on a metal oxide support. The metal oxide support such as alumina will possess a particular configuration such as a polylobular particle containing from 3 to about 8 lobes and having a ratio of exterior surface to catalyst volume greater than [4D+2L] in which D is the largest representative diameter and L is the length of the particle.

Abstract: Carbon molecular sieves are used in the oxidative dehydrogenation of alkyl aromatic compounds, for example, in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene.

Abstract: In a process for dehydrocyclization of C.sub.6 -C.sub.12 alkanes in the presence of steam and a bed of a catalyst containing a Group IIA or IIB metal aluminate and a Group VIII metal, an oxygen containing gas is injected into the catalyst bed. The results of the oxygen injection are the internal generation of heat, a lower required steam to hydrocarbon ratio, and increased yield of aromatics.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are catalytically dehydrogenated in a reaction zone comprising at least two separate beds of dehydrogenation catalyst. The reactants are reheated and hydrogen is consumed through use of an intermediate bed of hydrogen selective oxidation catalyst. The amount of hydrogen consumed in the combustion step is increased by cooling the effluent of the first dehydrogenation catalyst bed by direct or indirect heat exchange.

Abstract: Para-ethyltoluene dehydrogenation catalyst compositions and processes for using such catalysts are provided. The catalyst compositions comprise a catalytically active iron compound, e.g., iron oxide; a potassium catalyst promoter, e.g., potassium carbonate; an optional chromium compound stabilizer, e.g., chromic oxide, a copper compound, e.g., copper chromite, and a zinc compound, e.g., zinc ferrate. Utilization of particular amounts of zinc ferrate and copper chromite in dehydrogenation catalyst compositions of this type will provide a catalyst especially suitable for promoting the highly selective dehydrogenation of para-ethyltoluene to form para-methylstyrene with excellent conversion.

Abstract: Ethyltoluene is oxidatively dehydrogenated to methylstyrene selectivity and in high conversions by treatment with hydrogen sulfide and oxygen at elevated temperatures of about 450.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. over magnesium oxide catalyst.

Abstract: Single-stage thermolysis of C.sub.8 and C.sub.9 aromatics at temperatures in excess of 900.degree. C. and pressures of less than 0.2 torr or in the presence of steam in excess of 800.degree. C., in the absence of catalysts yields styrene and/or p-methylstyrene in high yields, providing a process for the conversion of xylenes and p-ethyltoluene to preferred styrene monomers.

Abstract: Prepare vinyl aromatic compounds in a fluidized bed by oxydehydrogenation in the presence of an alkaline earth metal-nickel phosphate catalyst.

Abstract: An oxidative dehydrogenation process for a paraffin or mixture of paraffins having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms employing a catalyst composition comprising lithium and titanium. The selectivity of the catalyst composition may be improved by adding manganese to the catalyst composition.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation reaction in which the hydrocarbons are treated with a dehydrogenation catalyst such as a modified iron compound in the presence of steam in a multi-catalyst bed system. The reaction mixture containing unconverted hydrocarbon, dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, hydrogen and steam is then contacted with a selective oxidation catalyst such as a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table, a metal of Group IVA of the Periodic Table and, if so desired, a metal of Group IA or IIA of the Periodic Table composited on a highly porous inorganic support. The oxidation catalyst will selectively oxidize the hydrogen to improve the combustion thereof and supply the necessary heat required for a subsequent dehydrogenation treatment.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons may be subjected to a dehydrogenation process in which a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst at dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of steam. The resulting mixture of undehydrogenated dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon, dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, hydrogen and steam is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of an oxidative catalyst comprising a noble metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table and a metal cation which possesses an ionic radius no less than about 1.35 Angstroms composited on a porous alumina support.

Abstract: A stabilized heteropoly molybdate catalyst precursor in calcined form and containing anionic molybdenum in defect state is surface impregnated with certain metal cations. The stabilized precursor is one obtained by incorporating into the reaction product of a molybdate and a soluble phosphate, silicate or arsenate, an aqueous chloride ion and a compound of phosphotungstate, silicotungstate, vanadium arsenate, silico-arsenate, phosphovanadate, or silicovanadate, followed by drying and calcining. During the chloride ion stabilization step other metals may be optionally incorporated in forming the stabilized precursor.The obtained precursor is catalytically active in the conversion of the unsaturated aldehydes to the corresponding unsaturated carboxylic acids with or without incorporation of the metal cation during the chloride ion stabilization step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for oxidatively dehydrogenating dehydrogenatable organic compounds to prepare styrene. In this process, the compounds mentioned are reacted in the vapor phase with oxygen at a temperature above 350.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst based on zirconium phosphate. Suitable dehydrogenatable organic compounds are above all saturated alkylaromatics, in particular ethylbenzene.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved oxydehydrogenation process for the production of tertiary-butylstyrene which involves the contacting of a vapor phase mixture of tertiarybutylethylbenzene and oxygen with a novel coprecipitated aluminum-calcium-silicon-tungsten phosphate catalyst composition.The tertiary-butylstyrene is produced with a high conversion selectivity, and concomitantly there is little or no dialkenylbenzene byproduct produced.

Abstract: The catalytic dehydrogenation of at least one dehydrogenatable organic compound which has at least one ##STR1## grouping is carried out in the presence of a zinc silicate catalyst and in the substantial absence of free oxygen.

Abstract: A process for producing an alkenyl-substituted aromatic compound which comprises catalytically reacting an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound in the vapor phase in the presence of molecular oxygen and a catalyst composed of palladium metal and a metal halide compound supported on an alumina carrier to convert it to the corresponding alkenyl-substituted aromatic compound, wherein said reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst composed of palladium metal and a metal halide compound supported on a carrier consisting substantially of .alpha.-alumina.

Abstract: Alkylaromatic hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated in admixture with steam, with the dehydrogenation zone effluent being condensed to form a water stream which is purified in a stripping column. The stripping column is reboiled by indirect heat exchange against the effluent of the dehydrogenation zone. The steam-rich overhead vapor stream of the stripping column is mixed directly into the dehydrogenation zone feed stream without intermediate condensation or pressurization.

Abstract: Improved oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts are prepared by modifying a preformed zinc ferrite oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst with zinc oxide. The resulting catalyst compositions exhibit higher conversions and yields.

Abstract: Oxide complexes comprising copper-promoted antimony phosphates have been found to exhibit significant catalytic activity in various oxidation-type reactions such as the ammoxidation of propylene to produce acrylonitrile.

Abstract: Certain multiply promoted Sn-Sb oxides are superior catalysts for the ammoxidation of olefins to the corresponding unsaturated nitriles, the selective oxidation of olefins to unsaturated aldehydes and acids, and the oxydehydrogenation of olefins to diolefins.

Abstract: A palladium or palladium alloy hydrogen diffusion membrane which has been treated with silane and/or silicon tetrafluoride is employed to separate hydrogen from a hydrocarbon with which it is in admixture and from which it may have been produced under dehydrogenation conditions in the presence of said membrane.

Abstract: A multi-stage dehydrogenation process for preparing indene and substituted indenes from indene precursors more saturated than indene is described. The process comprises the steps of(a) contacting said indene precursor in a first dehydrogenation zone with a dehydrogenation catalyst at an elevated temperature to form an intermediate product,(b) advancing the product of the first dehydrogenation zone to a second dehydrogenation zone,(c) contacting said product in the second dehydrogenation zone with a second dehydrogenation catalyst at an elevated temperature, and(d) recovering indene or a substituted indene from said second zone.The process of the invention results in yields of indene which are enhanced when compared to single stage, essentially isothermal processes using a single catalyst.

Abstract: An oxydehydrogenation process for producing indene and substituted indenes from indene precursors more saturated than indene is described and comprises contacting said precursor with oxygen and a catalyst comprising cobalt oxide and molybdenum oxide at an elevated temperature above about 300.degree. C. Preferably the reaction is conducted at a temperature of about 500.degree.-650.degree. C. for a period of from 0.1 to about 30 seconds.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved oxydehydrogenation process for the production of tertiary-butylstyrene which involves the contacting of a vapor phase mixture of tertiary-butylethylbenzene and oxygen with a novel coprecipitated aluminum-calcium-cerium phosphate catalyst composition.The tertiary-butylstyrene is produced with a high conversion selectivity, and concomitantly there is little or no dialkenylbenzene byproducts produced.

Abstract: A dehydrogenation process for producing indene and substituted indenes from tetrahydroindene or substituted tetrahydroindene is described and comprises contacting said tetrahydroindene or substituted tetrahydroindene with a catalyst comprising cobalt oxide and molybdenum oxide at an elevated temperature for a period of from about 0.1 to 30 seconds. The tetrahydroindene and substituted tetrahydroindenes may be prepared from cyclopentadiene or dicyclopentadiene and a butadiene.

Abstract: A process for the co-production of indene and styrene from a mixture of cyclopentadiene or dicyclopentadiene and butadiene is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of reacting cyclopentadiene or dicyclopentadiene with butadiene in a Diels-Alder reaction to form a mixture of tetrahydroindene, vinylcyclohexene and vinylnorbornene followed by the recovery of the tetrahydroindene and vinylcyclohexene, and the oxydehydrogenation of the tetrahydroindene/vinylcyclohexene mixture utilizing a composite catalyst comprising cobalt oxide and molybdenum oxide.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved oxydehydrogenation process for the production of tertiary-butylstyrene which involves the contacting of a vapor phase mixture of tertiary-butylethylbenzene and oxygen with a novel coprecipitated nickel-zirconium phosphate or nickel-zirconium-cerium phosphate catalyst composition.The tertiary-butylstyrene is produced with a high conversion selectivity, and concomitantly there is little or no dialkenylbenzene byproducts produced.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved process for the dehydrogenation of alkyl-substituted aromatic compounds to the corresponding alkenyl-substituted aromatics in the presence of oxygen and in the presence of an improved metal phosphate catalyst composition.

Abstract: Dehydrogenatable alkylaromatic hydrocarbons are oxydehydrogenated by contacting them at oxydehydrogenation conditions with specified amounts of steam and oxygen in the presence of an active and selective catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, alumina and magnesium oxide with a silica carrier material. A specific example of the active and selective catalytic composite disclosed herein for use in oxydehydrogenation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons is a combination of cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, alumina and magnesium oxide with a silica carrier material in amounts sufficient to result in a mole ratio of chromium oxide to cobalt oxide of about 0.2:1 to about 2:1, of alumina to cobalt oxide of about 0.05:1 to about 0.5:1 and of magnesium oxide to cobalt oxide of about 0.05:1 to about 0.5:1.