A low temperature on-purpose propylene production method is described. The method includes autometathesis of butene streams without an initial ethylene feedstock stream using supported autometathesis catalysts that are active at low temperatures. The low temperature allows for liquid phase reactions, which increases the selective production of propylene. The lack of an initial ethylene feedstock stream and low reaction temperature also reduces coking on the autometathesis catalysts, thus extending its lifetime.

Provided in this disclosure is a process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower alkane into a corresponding alkene. The process includes providing a gas stream comprising the lower alkane to a reactor; contacting, in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor, the lower alkane with a catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide; and providing to the last 50% of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor a stream comprising from 0.01 vol. % to 10 vol. % of a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohol.

The present invention relates to a catalyst system comprising: i. a first layer of a hydrocarbon conversion catalyst, the hydrocarbon conversion catalyst comprising: a first composition comprising a platinum group metal on a solid support; and a second composition comprising a transition metal on an inorganic support; ii. a second layer comprising a cracking catalyst; and to a process for conversion of a hydrocarbon feed utilizing this catalyst system.

The invention relates to a process for treatment of a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium, comprising contacting a gas stream comprising methane, an inert gas or oxygen or any combination of two or more of these with the catalyst, wherein said gas stream comprises 0 to 25 vol. % of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts comprising MoVNbTeO having improved consistency of composition and a 25% conversion of ethylene at less than 420° C. and a selectivity to ethylene above 95% are prepared by treating the catalyst precursor with H.sub.2O.sub.2 in an amount equivalent to 0.30-2.8 mL H.sub.2O.sub.2 of a 30% solution per gram of catalyst precursor prior to calcining.

Mixed metal oxide catalysts having an amorphous content of not less than 40 wt. % are prepared by calcining the catalyst precursor fully or partially enclosed by a porous material having a melting temperature greater than 600° C. in an inert container including heating the catalyst precursor at a rate from 0.5 to 10° C. per minute from room temperature to a temperature from 370° C. to 540° C. under a stream of pre heated gas chosen from steam and inert gas and mixtures thereof at a pressure of greater than or equal to 1 psig having a temperature from 300° C. to 540° C. and holding the catalyst precursor at that temperature for at least 2 hours and cooling the catalyst precursor to room temperature.

The present disclosure provides methods and materials for oligomerization of lower olefins (e.g., C.sub.2-C.sub.8) to transportations fuels including diesel and/or jet fuel. The oligomerization employs, in certain embodiments, tungstated zirconium catalysts. Surprisingly, the oligomerizations proceed smoothly in high yields and exhibit little to no sensitivity to the presence of significant amounts of oxygenates (e.g., water, lower alcohols such as C.sub.2-C.sub.8 alcohols) in the feed stream. Accordingly, the present disclosure is uniquely suited to the production of fuels derived from bio-based alcohols, wherein olefins produced from such bio-based alcohols typically contain high levels of oxygenates.

A novel mixed oxide material is disclosed which contains molybdenum, vanadium, tellurium and niobium and the use of the molybdenum mixed oxide material as catalyst for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethene or the oxidation of propane to acrylic acid and a process for producing the mixed oxide material.

A process for activating an aromatization catalyst includes contacting an aromatization catalyst with a carburizing gas in a carburization reactor at a carburization pressure in a range of greater than 300 kPa to 800 kPa, or 500 kPa to 600 kPa, to obtain a calcined aromatization catalyst. The carburizing gas provides a carbon source, preferably the carburizing gas comprises at least one of methane, ethane, propane, butane, or carbon monoxide.

Methods, compositions, and articles of manufacture for alkane activation with single- or bi-metallic catalysts on crystalline mixed oxide supports.