Methods for producing propylene by the dehydrogenation of propane are provided. Methods can include introducing a first gas mixture including propane to a dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of at least about 570 C., introducing a second gas mixture including steam and air to the dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of at least about 550 C., and allowing the second gas mixture to subsist therewith for at least about one hour. Methods can further include introducing a third gas mixture including hydrogen to the dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of at least about 500 C.

Oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes employs a catalyst, usually a mixed metal oxide, to convert, in the presence of oxygen, a lower alkane into its corresponding alkene. Continuous operation of an oxidative dehydrogenation process may result in a gradual decrease of catalyst activity and or selection, requiring downtime for regeneration. Provided herein is a process for regeneration of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst including initiating regeneration by passing a regeneration gas over the catalyst, monitoring regeneration by comparing the oxygen concentration of the regeneration gas before and after being passed over the catalyst, and ceasing regeneration when the oxygen concentration of the regeneration gas after passed over the catalyst is at least 90% of the concentration of the regeneration gas before being passed over the catalyst.

Oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes employs a catalyst, usually a mixed metal oxide, to convert, in the presence of oxygen, a lower alkane into its corresponding alkene. Continuous operation of an oxidative dehydrogenation process may result in a gradual decrease of catalyst activity and or selection, requiring downtime for regeneration. Provided herein is a process for regeneration of an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst including initiating regeneration by passing a regeneration gas over the catalyst, monitoring regeneration by comparing the oxygen concentration of the regeneration gas before and after being passed over the catalyst, and ceasing regeneration when the oxygen concentration of the regeneration gas after passed over the catalyst is at least 90% of the concentration of the regeneration gas before being passed over the catalyst.

A method of synthesizing a smart paper transformer is provided. The method comprises combining paper with HAuCl.sub.4 and stirring together in an aqueous solution to form a pulp. The pulp is treated with NaBH.sub.4 aqueous solution. The treated pulp is then washed and centrifuged with water a number of times to form a gold nanosponge (AuNS) catalyst pulp.

The present disclosure provides an air-soak containing regeneration process reducing its time. The process includes (i) removing surface carbon species from a gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst in a combustion process in the presence of a fuel gas; (ii) conditioning the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst after (i) in air-soak treatment at a temperature of 660 C. to 850 C. with (iii) a flow of oxygen-containing gas having (iv) 0.1 to 100 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of a chlorine source selected from chlorine, a chlorine compound or a combination thereof; and achieving a predetermined alkane conversion percentage for the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst undergoing the air-soak containing regeneration process using (i) through (iv) 10% to 50% sooner in air-soak treatment than that required to achieve the same predetermined alkane conversion percentage for the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst undergoing the air-soak containing regeneration process using (i) through (iii), but without (iv).

The present disclosure provides an air-soak containing regeneration process reducing its time. The process includes (i) removing surface carbon species from a gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst in a combustion process in the presence of a fuel gas; (ii) conditioning the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst after (i) in air-soak treatment at a temperature of 660 C. to 850 C. with (iii) a flow of oxygen-containing gas having (iv) 0.1 to 100 parts per million by volume (ppmv) of a chlorine source selected from chlorine, a chlorine compound or a combination thereof; and achieving a predetermined alkane conversion percentage for the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst undergoing the air-soak containing regeneration process using (i) through (iv) 10% to 50% sooner in air-soak treatment than that required to achieve the same predetermined alkane conversion percentage for the gallium-based alkane dehydrogenation catalyst undergoing the air-soak containing regeneration process using (i) through (iii), but without (iv).

A catalyst for a selective conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst includes a first component selected from the group consisting of Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof, a second component selected from the group consisting of alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals and mixtures thereof, and a third component selected from the group consisting of tin, germanium, lead, indium, gallium, thallium and mixtures thereof. The catalyst is a support formed as a spherical catalyst particle with a median diameter between 1.6 mm and 2.5 mm and an apparent bulk density between 0.6 and 0.3 g/cc. Also a process of using such a catalyst for a selective hydrocarbon conversion reaction and a process for regenerating such a catalyst by removing coke from same.

A catalyst for a selective conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst includes a first component selected from the group consisting of Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof, a second component selected from the group consisting of alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals and mixtures thereof, and a third component selected from the group consisting of tin, germanium, lead, indium, gallium, thallium and mixtures thereof. The catalyst is a support formed as a spherical catalyst particle with a median diameter between 1.6 mm and 2.5 mm and an apparent bulk density between 0.6 and 0.3 g/cc. Also a process of using such a catalyst for a selective hydrocarbon conversion reaction and a process for regenerating such a catalyst by removing coke from same.

The present disclosure relates to dehydrogenation catalysts based on one or more certain group 13 and group 14 elements that further include additional metal components, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons using such catalysts. One aspect of the disclosure provides a calcined dehydrogenation catalyst that includes a primary species P1 selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, TI, Ge, Sn and Pb and combinations thereof; a primary species P2 selected from the lanthanides; a promoter M1 selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd and Pt; a promoter M2 selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, on a silica-alumina support.

The present invention relates to a catalyst used in a dehydrogenation reaction of a linear hydrocarbon gas in a range of C3 to C4, and provides a dehydrogenation catalyst which is deposited on a carrier obtained by changing the phase of platinum, an auxiliary metal and an alkali metal, wherein the platinum and the auxiliary metal are present as a single complex within a certain thickness from the outer edges of the catalyst in an alloy form.