According to one embodiment described in this disclosure, a process for producing propylene may comprise at least partially metathesizing a first stream comprising at least about 10 wt. % butene to form a metathesis-reaction product, at least partially cracking the metathesis-reaction product to form a cracking-reaction product comprising propylene, and at least partially separating propylene from the cracking-reaction product to form a product stream comprising at least about 80 wt. % propylene.

Embodiments of processes for producing propylene utilize a dual catalyst system comprising a mesoporous silica catalyst impregnated with metal oxide and a mordenite framework inverted (MFI) structured silica catalyst downstream of the mesoporous silica catalyst, where the mesoporous silica catalyst includes a pore size distribution of at least 2.5 nm to 40 nm and a total pore volume of at least 0.600 cm.sup.3/g, and the MFI structured silica catalyst has a total acidity of 0.001 mmol/g to 0.1 mmol/g. The propylene is produced from the butene stream via metathesis by contacting the mesoporous silica catalyst and subsequent cracking by contacting the MFI structured silica catalyst.

A process for preparing a mesoporous material, e.g., transition metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, Lanthanide metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, a post-transition metal oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride, and metalloid oxide, sulfide, selenide or telluride. The process comprises providing a micellar solution comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic or lyotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant; and heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the mesoporous material. A mesoporous material prepared by the above process. A method of controlling nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in mesoporous materials. The method comprises providing a micellar solution comprising a metal precursor, an interface modifier, a hydrotropic or lyotropic ion precursor, and a surfactant; and heating the micellar solution at a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to control nano-sized wall crystallinity and mesoporosity in the mesoporous materials. Mesoporous materials and a method of tuning structural properties of mesoporous materials.

Hydrogenation catalysts for aromatic hydrogenation including an organosilica material support, which is a polymer comprising independent units of a monomer of Formula [Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2OSiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), wherein each Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer; and at least one catalyst metal are provided herein. Methods of making the hydrogenation catalysts and processes of using, e.g., aromatic hydrogenation, the hydrogenation catalyst are also provided herein.

A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204? C. to 538? C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538? C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204? C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

Methods of preparing organosilica materials, which are a polymer comprising of at least one independent cyclic polyurea monomer of Formula ##STR00001##
wherein each R.sup.1 is a Z.sup.1OZ.sup.2Z.sup.3SiZ.sup.4 group, wherein each Z.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; each Z.sup.2 and Z.sup.3 independently represent a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer unit; and each Z.sup.4 represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkylene group bonded to a nitrogen atom of the cyclic polyurea are provided herein. Methods of preparing and processes of using the organosilica materials, e.g., for gas separation, color removal, etc., are also provided herein.

Methods for coating a substrate with a coating including an adsorbent material and a binder comprising an organosilica material which is a polymer comprising independent units of Formula [Z.sup.3Z.sup.4SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), wherein each Z.sup.3 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another unit or an active site on the substrate and each Z.sup.4 represents a hydroxyl group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group, a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group, an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another unit or an active site on the substrate are provided. Methods of gas separation are also provided.

An oxidation catalyst for treating an exhaust gas from a compression ignition engine, which oxidation catalyst comprises: a substrate; a first washcoat region comprising palladium (Pd) and a first support material comprising cerium oxide; and a second washcoat region comprising platinum (Pt) and a second support material.

A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204? C. to 538? C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538? C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204? C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

Methods are provided herein for separating an aromatic compound from a lube base stock by contacting a lube base stock containing an aromatic compound with an organosilica material.