The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol, the process comprising a first stage and a second stage. Furthermore, the invention relates to a catalyst system for use in the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of the catalyst system for the production of 1,3-butadiene from a feed comprising ethanol, and a plant comprising the catalyst system.

The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol, the process comprising a first stage and a second stage. Furthermore, the invention relates to a catalyst system for use in the production of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of the catalyst system for the production of 1,3-butadiene from a feed comprising ethanol, and a plant comprising the catalyst system.

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting carboxylic acids to aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.

The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting carboxylic acids to aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.

Methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing in high yield aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from a mixture of oxygenates comprising di- and polyoxygenates are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing aromatic chemicals and liquid fuels from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like; and methods, catalysts, and reactor systems for producing the mixture of oxygenates from oxygenated hydrocarbons such as carbohydrates, sugars, sugar alcohols, sugar degradation products, and the like. The disclosed catalysts for preparing the mixture of oxygenates comprise a Ni.sub.nSn.sub.m alloy and a crystalline alumina support.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic hydrocarbon, and processes for producing p-xylene and terephthalic acid. The process for producing said aromatic hydrocarbon comprises a step of contacting an olefin with a diene in the presence of a catalyst to produce an aromatic hydrocarbon, which is characterized in that, at least a part of said olefin is substituted with dienophile. The reaction pressure can be reduced and the xylene selectivity can be increased with the improvement of the present invention.

A process is disclosed for converting acetic acid to isobutene in the presence of a catalyst. In certain embodiments, a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst is used for carrying out a gas phase process for converting acetic acid to isobutene. In some embodiments, a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst made by an incipient wetness impregnation method is used and is indicated to be very stable for carrying out the conversion.

A process is disclosed for converting acetic acid to isobutene in the presence of a catalyst. In certain embodiments, a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst is used for carrying out a gas phase process for converting acetic acid to isobutene. In some embodiments, a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst made by an incipient wetness impregnation method is used and is indicated to be very stable for carrying out the conversion.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.