There is provided a method for producing an optionally substituted olefin, comprising the steps of: dehydrogenating an optionally substituted alcohol in a first reaction zone comprising a first catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle to form an optionally substituted carbonyl at a first set of reaction conditions; converting the optionally substituted alcohol and the optionally substituted carbonyl from the first reaction zone in a second reaction zone at a second set of reaction conditions that is different to the first set of reaction conditions and is selected to form the optionally substituted olefin, wherein the second reaction zone comprises a second catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle. There is also provided a system for producing the optionally substituted olefin.

An improved process and catalyst composition for cracking hydrocarbons in a fluidized cracking process are disclosed. The process employs circulating inventory of a regenerated cracking having a minimal carbon content. The regenerated catalyst comprises a catalyst/additive composition which contains a pentasil zeolite, iron oxide, and a phosphorous compound. In accordance with the present disclosure, the catalyst/additive contains controlled amounts of iron oxide which is maintained in an oxidized state by maintaining low amounts of carbon on the regenerated catalyst inventory. In this manner it was discovered that the catalyst composition greatly enhances the production and selectivity of light hydrocarbons, such as propylene.

An improved process and catalyst composition for cracking hydrocarbons in a fluidized cracking process are disclosed. The process employs circulating inventory of a regenerated cracking having a minimal carbon content. The regenerated catalyst comprises a catalyst/additive composition which contains a pentasil zeolite, iron oxide, and a phosphorous compound. In accordance with the present disclosure, the catalyst/additive contains controlled amounts of iron oxide which is maintained in an oxidized state by maintaining low amounts of carbon on the regenerated catalyst inventory. In this manner it was discovered that the catalyst composition greatly enhances the production and selectivity of light hydrocarbons, such as propylene.

Disclosed is a method of making and using a titania supported palladium catalyst for the single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from a feed of n-butyraldehyde. This titania supported palladium catalyst demonstrates high n-butyraldehyde conversion but also produces 2-ethylhexanal in an appreciable yield with maintained activity between runs. This method provides a single step synthesis of 2-ethylhexanal from n-butyraldehyde with a catalyst that can be regenerated that provides cleaner downstream separations relative to the traditional caustic route.

A commercially available anatase titania catalyst is shown to be catalytically active towards the formation of methacrolein from formaldehyde and propionaldehyde with conversions and selectivities close to 90%. This titania catalyst is readily available, non-toxic, and can be used with formaldehyde and a variety of other aldehyde compounds to make α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compounds. This process benefits from low raw material costs and is economically advantaged due to the elimination of catalyst separation. An additional advantage of this method involves the ability of the catalyst to be fully regenerated after a calcination step at 450° C. in air. This process shows promising stability and selectivity during lifetime studies, particularly when performed in the presence of a hydrogen carrier gas.

Disclosed is a method for separating a chlorine-containing species from an aqueous solution of the chlorine-containing species in a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion process that includes the step of oxidizing a spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst, the spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst including a hydrocarbon residue formed thereon. The oxidizing forms a flue gas including chlorine-containing species, water, and oxides of carbon. The method further includes contacting the flue gas with a water scrubbing stream to dissolve at least a portion of the chlorine-containing species in the water scrubbing stream to form an aqueous acid solution and contacting the aqueous acid solution with a hygroscopic liquid to generate dehydrated hydrogen chloride gas. Still further, the method includes contacting the dehydrated hydrogen chloride gas with additional spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst to sorb chlorine onto the additional spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst.

Disclosed is a method for separating a chlorine-containing species from an aqueous solution of the chlorine-containing species in a catalytic hydrocarbon conversion process that includes the step of oxidizing a spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst, the spent hydrocarbon conversion catalyst including a hydrocarbon residue formed thereon. The oxidizing forms a flue gas including chlorine-containing species, water, and oxides of carbon. The method further includes contacting the flue gas with a water scrubbing stream to dissolve at least a portion of the chlorine-containing species in the water scrubbing stream to form an aqueous acid solution and contacting the aqueous acid solution with a hygroscopic liquid to generate dehydrated hydrogen chloride gas. Still further, the method includes contacting the dehydrated hydrogen chloride gas with additional spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst to sorb chlorine onto the additional spent chloride-containing hydrocarbon conversion catalyst.

The invention relates to a method for purifying exhaust gas and for regenerating an oxidation catalytic converter, comprising treating the exhaust gas in an oxidation catalytic converter, which comprises a catalytically active material, which contains at least one noble metal and/or at least one base transition metal, wherein the oxidation catalytic converter is operated continuously or at times at a temperature that causes the oxidation of soot particles and/or carbon particles, and/or wherein the oxidation catalytic converter is periodically heated to a temperature that causes the oxidation of soot particles and/or carbon particles.

The invention relates to a method for purifying exhaust gas and for regenerating an oxidation catalytic converter, comprising treating the exhaust gas in an oxidation catalytic converter, which comprises a catalytically active material, which contains at least one noble metal and/or at least one base transition metal, wherein the oxidation catalytic converter is operated continuously or at times at a temperature that causes the oxidation of soot particles and/or carbon particles, and/or wherein the oxidation catalytic converter is periodically heated to a temperature that causes the oxidation of soot particles and/or carbon particles.

The present invention provides a method for allowing a used inert material that has been subjected to a reaction once, which is disposed of in the background art, to be used again as well as a brand-new one. A method of recovering an inert material of the present invention is characterized by in the fixed-bed reactor, the inert material is loaded in an inert material layer provided between a first-stage catalyst layer and a second-stage catalyst layer, the first-stage catalyst layer is loaded with a first-stage catalyst for producing acrolein from propylene, and the second-stage catalyst layer is loaded with a second-stage catalyst for producing acrylic acid from acrolein, the method comprising the steps of: extracting the inert material from the fixed-bed reactor; washing the extracted inert material; and screening the washed inert material.