A method is disclosed of coupling and integrating natural gas recovery and separation along with chemical conversion. The method can comprise extracting at least one natural gas component. Non-limiting examples of the extracted component include ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes. The method can also comprise contacting a natural gas stream with a catalyst under conditions that selectively convert at least one component into at least one product, such as ethylene, acetic acid, polyethylene, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and their derivatives, propylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, acrylates, acrolein, acrylic acid, butenes, butadiene, methacrolein, methacrylic acid, methacrylates, and their derivatives, which can then be separated from the remaining components. The method can further comprise integrating production of ethylene, acetic acid, and/or vinyl acetate with polymerization of ethylene-based polymers, such as polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol.

A method is disclosed of coupling and integrating natural gas recovery and separation along with chemical conversion. The method can comprise extracting at least one natural gas component. Non-limiting examples of the extracted component include ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes. The method can also comprise contacting a natural gas stream with a catalyst under conditions that selectively convert at least one component into at least one product, such as ethylene, acetic acid, polyethylene, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and their derivatives, propylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, acrylates, acrolein, acrylic acid, butenes, butadiene, methacrolein, methacrylic acid, methacrylates, and their derivatives, which can then be separated from the remaining components. The method can further comprise integrating production of ethylene, acetic acid, and/or vinyl acetate with polymerization of ethylene-based polymers, such as polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol.

A method is disclosed of coupling and integrating natural gas recovery and separation along with chemical conversion. The method can comprise extracting at least one natural gas component. Non-limiting examples of the extracted component include ethane, propane, butanes, and pentanes. The method can also comprise contacting a natural gas stream with a catalyst under conditions that selectively convert at least one component into at least one product, such as ethylene, acetic acid, polyethylene, vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, and their derivatives, propylene, polypropylene, propylene oxide, propylene glycol, acrylates, acrolein, acrylic acid, butenes, butadiene, methacrolein, methacrylic acid, methacrylates, and their derivatives, which can then be separated from the remaining components. The method can further comprise integrating production of ethylene, acetic acid, and/or vinyl acetate with polymerization of ethylene-based polymers, such as polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, or polyvinyl alcohol.

The present invention relates to a Pd- and Au-containing shell catalyst which is characterised by an improved Pd and Au distribution. The invention also relates to two methods for producing said catalyst and to a method for producing vinyl acetate monomer using said catalyst.

The present invention relates to a Pd- and Au-containing shell catalyst which is characterised by an improved Pd and Au distribution. The invention also relates to two methods for producing said catalyst and to a method for producing vinyl acetate monomer using said catalyst.

Provided are catalyst composites useful for the production of vinyl acetate monomer, as well as methods of making using same. The catalyst composites may comprise a support comprising silica and about 1 to about 3 wt % alumina, wherein the support has a surface area of about 175 to about 300 m.sup.2/g; and an eggshell layer on the support comprising Pd and Au.

Provided are catalyst composites useful for the production of vinyl acetate monomer, as well as methods of making using same. The catalyst composites may comprise a support comprising silica and about 1 to about 3 wt % alumina, wherein the support has a surface area of about 175 to about 300 m.sup.2/g; and an eggshell layer on the support comprising Pd and Au.

The present invention relates to a process for forming vinyl acetate. The process comprises the step of providing a reaction mixture having an initial heat capacity. The reaction mixture comprises acetic acid, oxygen, ethylene, and optionally water. The process further comprises the step of adding to the reaction mixture at least one heat capacity modifier to form an increased heat capacity reaction mixture. The process further comprises the step of contacting the acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene over a catalyst under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate product. The crude vinyl acetate product comprises vinyl acetate and water.

The present invention relates to a process for forming vinyl acetate. The process comprises the step of providing a reaction mixture having an initial heat capacity. The reaction mixture comprises acetic acid, oxygen, ethylene, and optionally water. The process further comprises the step of adding to the reaction mixture at least one heat capacity modifier to form an increased heat capacity reaction mixture. The process further comprises the step of contacting the acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene over a catalyst under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate product. The crude vinyl acetate product comprises vinyl acetate and water.

The present invention relates to a process for forming vinyl acetate. The process comprises the step of providing a reaction mixture having an initial heat capacity. The reaction mixture comprises acetic acid, oxygen, ethylene, and optionally water. The process further comprises the step of adding to the reaction mixture at least one heat capacity modifier to form an increased heat capacity reaction mixture. The process further comprises the step of contacting the acetic acid, oxygen, and ethylene over a catalyst under conditions effective to form a crude vinyl acetate product. The crude vinyl acetate product comprises vinyl acetate and water.