A process for the co-production of acetic acid and dimethyl ether by contacting methyl acetate and methanol in the presence of catalysts comprising crystalline zeolites having a FER framework type which crystallites have a dimension in the c-axis of about 500 nanometres (nm) or less and a ratio of the c-axis:b-axis dimension of 5:1 or greater and a method for preparation of the zeolites utilising piperazines.

Iron compound particles comprise a -FeOOH crystal phase and a metal element other than Fe with which the -FeOOH crystal phase is doped, wherein the metal element other than Fe is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of elements of Al as well as 3d and 4d transition metals belonging to periodic table Groups 4 to 12 other than Fe, an atomic ratio of the metal element other than Fe to the Fe element (metal element other than Fe/Fe element) is 0.001 to 0.5, and the iron compound particles satisfy at least one of the following requirements (A) and (B): (A) having a crystallite diameter of 1 to 60 nm when measured by X-ray diffraction; and (B) having an average particle diameter of 1 to 600 nm when measured by dynamic light scattering in a solvent.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst, at least comprising the steps of adding a protecting agent to an aqueous solution of a metal precursor to give a mixture (M1), adding a reducing agent to mixture (M1) to give a mixture (M2), adding a support material to mixture (M2) to give a mixture (M3), adjusting the pH of mixture (M3), and separating the solid and liquid phase of mixture (M3). Furthermore, the present invention relates to the catalyst as such and its use as diesel oxidation catalyst.

A process for preparing a cobalt-containing hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst precursor includes calcining a loaded catalyst support comprising a catalyst support supporting a cobalt compound. The calcination includes heating the loaded catalyst support over a heating temperature range of 90 C. to 220 C. using (i) one or more high heating rate periods during the heating over the heating temperature range wherein heating of the loaded catalyst support takes place at a heating rate of at least 10 C./minute, and wherein a gas velocity of at least 5 m.sup.3.sub.n/kg cobalt compound/hour is effected over the loaded catalyst support, and (ii) one or more low heating rate periods during the heating over the heating temperature range wherein heating of the loaded catalyst support takes place at a heating rate of less than 6 C./minute. The cobalt compound is thereby calcined, with a cobalt-containing hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst precursor being produced.

A novel nickel particulate form is provided that efficiently forms a zero-valent nickel complex with a phosphorus-containing ligands in an organic liquid to form a hydrocyanation catalyst. Particles in the nickel particulate form comprise nickel crystallites. For example, the nickel particulate form can have a BET Specific Surface Area of at least about 1 m.sup.2/gm; an average crystallite size less than about 20-25 nm, the nickel particulate form can have at least 10% of the crystallites in the nickel form can have can have a diameter (C10) of less than about 10 nm, and/or there are on average at least about 10.sup.15 surface crystallites per gram nickel. A ratio of BET SSA to C50 for the nickel particulate form can be at least about 0.110.sup.9 m/gm and preferably at least about 0.410.sup.9 m/gm. Methods of preparation and use are also provided.

The present invention provides a beta zeolite that is useful as a catalyst, adsorbent agent, or the like, and that is both microporous and mesoporous. The beta zeolite is characterized by (i) the SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ratio being 8-30, and the SiO.sub.2/ZnO ratio being 8-1000, (ii) the micropore surface area being 300-800 m.sup.2/g, (iii) the micropore volume being 0.1-0.3 cm.sup.3/g, and (iv) having mesopores having, in the state as synthesized, a diameter of 2-6 nm and a volume of 0.001-0.3 cm.sup.3/g. The beta zeolite is favorably produced by means of adding and reacting a zinc silicate beta zeolite as a seed crystal with a reaction mixture containing a silica source, an alumina source, an alkali source, and water.

A silicate-coated MFI-type zeolite is obtained by coating an MFI-type zeolite with a silicate, and a peak area ratio b/a of a peak b at 2=8.4 to 9.7 to a peak a at 2=7.0 to 8.4 in an X-ray diffraction spectrum is 1 or more, and a pKa value measured by a Hammett indicator is +3.3 or more.

A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, water, dissolved potassium dihydrogen phosphate, and optionally propane; (ii) passing the liquid feed stream provided in (i) into an epoxidation reactor comprising a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite of structure type MWW, and subjecting the liquid feed stream to epoxidation reaction conditions; (iii) removing an effluent stream from the epoxidation reactor; wherein the concentration of the dissolved potassium dihydrogen phosphate in the liquid feed stream is at least 10% of the solubility limit of the potassium dihydrogen phosphate in the liquid feed stream.

Provided is a Fischer Tropsch catalyst prepared according to a process comprising: a. preparing a catalyst precursor by: i. impregnating an alumina catalyst support material with a first solution comprising ammonium metavanadate and phosphoric acid, to obtain a treated catalyst support material; ii. calcining the treated catalyst support material at a temperature of at least 500 C. to obtain a modified catalyst support having a modified support surface area and a pore volume of at least 0.4 cc/g; wherein the modified catalyst support loses no more than 8% of the pore volume when exposed to a water vapor; and iii. contacting the modified catalyst support with a second solution comprising a precursor compound of an active cobalt catalyst component and glutaric acid to obtain the catalyst precursor; and b. reducing the catalyst precursor to activate the catalyst precursor to obtain the Fischer Tropsch catalyst.

A process for the conversion of oxygenates to olefins is presented. The process utilizes a catalyst having a 2-dimensional morphology, and the catalyst is a pentasil zeolite. The process is an oxygenate to olefins conversion under typical temperatures and pressures, but provides for an increased propylene yield and a reduced ethylene yield.