Catalysts for the dehydration of lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof in liquid phase comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid are provided.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of bismuth oxyhalide, comprising a precipitation of bismuth oxyhalide in an acidic aqueous medium in the presence of a reducing agent. Also provided are bismuth oxyhalide compounds doped with elemental bismuth Bi.sup.(0). The use of Bi.sup.(0)doped-bismuth oxyhalide as photocatalysts in water purification is also described.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of bismuth oxyhalide, comprising a precipitation of bismuth oxyhalide in an acidic aqueous medium in the presence of a reducing agent. Also provided are bismuth oxyhalide compounds doped with elemental bismuth Bi.sup.(0). The use of Bi.sup.(0)doped-bismuth oxyhalide as photocatalysts in water purification is also described.

The invention relates to a new process for the manufacture of fluoroaryl compounds and derivatives thereof, in particular of fluorobenzenes and derivatives thereof, and especially wherein said manufacture relates to an environmentally friendly production of the said compounds. Thus, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art processes, and in a surprisingly simple and beneficial manner, and as compared to the prior art processes, in particular, the invention provides a more efficient and energy saving processes, and also provides a more environmentally friendly process, for the manufacture of nuclear fluorinated aromatics, and preferably of nuclear fluorinated fluorobenzenes. Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, an industrially beneficial process for preparing fluorobenzenes from halobenzene precursors using HF to form hydrogen halide is provided by the present invention. A beneficial and surprisingly simple use of chlorobenzene as an industrially interesting starting material in the manufacture of fluorobenzene is provided.

The invention relates to a new process for the manufacture of fluoroaryl compounds and derivatives thereof, in particular of fluorobenzenes and derivatives thereof, and especially wherein said manufacture relates to an environmentally friendly production of the said compounds. Thus, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art processes, and in a surprisingly simple and beneficial manner, and as compared to the prior art processes, in particular, the invention provides a more efficient and energy saving processes, and also provides a more environmentally friendly process, for the manufacture of nuclear fluorinated aromatics, and preferably of nuclear fluorinated fluorobenzenes. Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, an industrially beneficial process for preparing fluorobenzenes from halobenzene precursors using HF to form hydrogen halide is provided by the present invention. A beneficial and surprisingly simple use of chlorobenzene as an industrially interesting starting material in the manufacture of fluorobenzene is provided.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of bismuth oxyhalide, comprising a precipitation of bismuth oxyhalide in an acidic aqueous medium in the presence of a reducing agent. Also provided are bismuth oxyhalide compounds doped with elemental bismuth Bi.sup.(0). The use of Bi.sup.(0) doped bismuth oxyhalide as photocatalysts in water purification is also described.

The invention provides a process for the preparation of bismuth oxyhalide, comprising a precipitation of bismuth oxyhalide in an acidic aqueous medium in the presence of a reducing agent. Also provided are bismuth oxyhalide compounds doped with elemental bismuth Bi.sup.(0). The use of Bi.sup.(0) doped bismuth oxyhalide as photocatalysts in water purification is also described.

Methods of preparing an acidic catalyst are disclosed that include heating a metal halide to produce a vapor phase metal halide, contacting an initial support material with the vapor phase metal halide in a reaction vessel causing a first chemical reaction and producing an intermediate acidic catalyst, contacting the intermediate acidic catalyst with HBr causing a second chemical reaction and producing an acidic catalyst product which is both more acidic than the intermediate acidic catalyst and more acidic than the initial support material.

Methods of preparing an acidic catalyst are disclosed that include heating a metal halide to produce a vapor phase metal halide, contacting an initial support material with the vapor phase metal halide in a reaction vessel causing a first chemical reaction and producing an intermediate acidic catalyst, contacting the intermediate acidic catalyst with HBr causing a second chemical reaction and producing an acidic catalyst product which is both more acidic than the intermediate acidic catalyst and more acidic than the initial support material.

The invention relates to a new process for the manufacture of fluoroaryl compounds and derivatives thereof, in particular of fluorobenzenes and derivatives thereof, and especially wherein said manufacture relates to an environmentally friendly production of the said compounds. Thus, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art processes, and in a surprisingly simple and beneficial manner, and as compared to the prior art processes, in particular, the invention provides a more efficient and energy saving processes, and also provides a more environmentally friendly process, for the manufacture of nuclear fluorinated aromatics, and preferably of nuclear fluorinated fluorobenzenes. Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, an industrially beneficial process for preparing fluorobenzenes from halobenzene precursors using HF to form hydrogen halide is provided by the present invention. A beneficial and surprisingly simple use of chlorobenzene as an industrially interesting starting material in the manufacture of fluorobenzene is provided.