Fischer-Tropsch processes for converting syngas produces linear alpha olefins at high yield and selectivity in the presence of supported nano-particle catalyst compositions and/or metal carbide/nitride-containing catalyst compositions.

Presented is a selective hydrogenation catalyst and a method of making the catalyst. The catalyst comprises a carrier containing bi-metallic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles comprise a silver component and a palladium component. The catalyst is made by incorporating an aqueous dispersion of the bi-metallic nanoparticles onto a catalyst carrier followed by drying and calcining the carrier having incorporated therein the dispersion. The catalyst is used in the selective hydrogenation of highly unsaturated hydrocarbons contained olefin product streams.

A simplified processes for producing desired chemicals such as butenes from feedstock mixtures containing ethanol. In one set of embodiments this is performed in a single step, wherein a feed containing ethanol in a gas phase is passed over an acidic metal oxide catalyst having a transition metal dispersion of at least 5% on a metal oxide support. The ethanol content of the feedstock mixture may vary from 10 to 100 percent of the feed and in those non-eat applications the ethanol feed may contain water.

A process for producing 1,3-butadiene (BD) from ethanol in a single step by s7passing a mixture containing ethanol in a gas phase over a multifunctional catalyst having a transition metal dispersion of at least 30% on a silica metal oxide support. In some examples the multifunctional catalyst comprises a silica metal oxide having a surface area of at least 200 m{circumflex over ()}2/g. The multifunctional catalyst can include a transition metal oxide, a silica metal oxide made from a high purity silica gel, mesoporous silica and fumed silica, such as high purity SBA16, SBA15, or Davisil grade 646.

A simplified processes for producing desired chemicals such as butenes from feedstock mixtures containing ethanol. In one set of embodiments this is performed in a single step, wherein a feed containing ethanol in a gas phase is passed over an acidic metal oxide catalyst having a transition metal dispersion of at least 5% on a metal oxide support. The ethanol content of the feedstock mixture may vary from 10 to 100 percent of the feed and in those non-eat applications the ethanol feed may contain water.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a variety of methods for starting up reactors for use in methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene using a catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm; and 0 to 190 ppm or at least 600 ppm carbon monoxide. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; and acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway. Notably, the process gas is contacted with the catalyst at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) based on total catalyst volume in one bed or multiple beds of at least 7,100 h.sup.1.

This invention relates to heterogeneous catalysts useful for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, comprising palladium and optionally a promoter, supported on a substrate, having an uncoated BET surface area of 9 m.sup.2/g, the surface being coated with an ionic liquid. Also described are methods of making the catalysts and methods of selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or dienes in front-end mixed olefin feed streams.

This invention relates to heterogeneous catalysts useful for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, comprising palladium and optionally a promoter, supported on a substrate, having an uncoated BET surface area of 9 m.sup.2/g, the surface being coated with an ionic liquid. Also described are methods of making the catalysts and methods of selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or dienes in front-end mixed olefin feed streams.