Methods of preparing unsaturated compounds or analogs through dehydrogenation of corresponding saturated compounds and/or hydrogenation of aromatic compounds are disclosed.

A method that includes (a) providing a stream containing ethane and oxygen to an ODH reactor; (b) converting a portion of the ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the ODH reactor to provide a stream containing ethane, ethylene, acetic acid, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (c) separating a portion of the acetic acid from the stream to provide an acetic acid stream and a stream containing ethane, ethylene, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (d) providing the stream to a CO Oxidation Reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting acetylene to produce a stream containing ethane, ethylene and carbon dioxide; and (e) providing a portion of the stream and a portion of the acetic acid stream to a third reactor containing a catalyst that includes a metal selected from group 10 and group 11 metals to produce vinyl acetate.

Methods of preparing unsaturated compounds or analogs through dehydrogenation of corresponding saturated compounds and/or hydrogenation of aromatic compounds are disclosed.

A catalyst comprising palladium, a porous support comprising at least one refractory oxide selected from the group constituted by silica, alumina and silica-alumina, the palladium content in the catalyst being in the range 0.01% to 2% by weight with respect to the total catalyst weight, at least 80% by weight of the palladium being distributed in a crust at the periphery of said support, the thickness of said crust being in the range 20 to 100 m, characterized in that said support is in the form of an extrudate and in that said support comprises a specific surface area in the range 165 to 250 m.sup.2/g.

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+{M.sub.s[MM.sub.12X.sub.8O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q]}.sup.m or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal-clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

Catalyst compositions and processes for making and using same. The catalyst composition can include catalyst particles. The catalyst particles can include 0.001 wt % to 6 wt % of Pt and up to 10 wt % of a promoter that can include Sn, Cu, Au, Ag, Ga, or a combination thereof, or a mixture thereof disposed on a support. The support can include at least 0.5 wt % of a Group 2 element. All weight percent values are based on the weight of the support. The catalyst particles can have a median particle size in a range from 10 ?m to 500 pm. The catalyst particles can have an apparent loose bulk density in a range from 0.3 g/cm.sup.3 to 2 g/cm.sup.3, as measured according to ASTM D7481-18 modified with a 10, 25, or 50 mL graduated cylinder instead of a 100 or 250 mL graduated cylinder.

The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

Conventionally, a silver-cerium oxide composite containing a silver particle and cerium oxide covering the surface of the silver particle has been synthesized through a multi-stage process, and is disadvantageous not only in that there is a need to use an organic solvent and a surfactant, causing the time and cost to be increased, but also in that there is a possibility that fulminating silver is formed, leading to a problem about the safety. A method for producing a catalyst having a silver-cerium oxide composite and an alkaline carrier having supported thereon the oxide composite, the silver-cerium oxide composite containing a silver particle and cerium oxide covering the surface of the silver particle, the method having preparing a mixture containing a silver compound, a cerium compound, and an alkaline carrier, and drying the mixture is provided.

The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

The present invention relates to a catalytically active material, the preparation thereof, and the use of the catalytically active material, e.g. in the catalytic oxidation of CO to CO.sub.2 or in the catalytic hydrogenation of alkyne. The catalytically active material comprises a support5 comprising a metal oxide, and atomically dispersed noble metal on the surface of the support, wherein the metal oxide is selected from TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, ZnO, SnO.sub.2, Ga.sub.2O.sub.3, In.sub.2O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3, the noble metal is selected from Pt, Pd, Rh, and Au, and the catalytically active material is obtainable by a method comprising a step of non-thermal plasma treatment in the presence of O.sub.2.