The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten, and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, yielding ethylene glycol and a spent heterogeneous catalyst; (ii) regenerating the spent heterogeneous catalyst by removing at least a portion of deposited tungsten species from the spent heterogeneous catalyst, yielding a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst; and (iii) using at least a portion of the regenerated heterogeneous catalyst as heterogeneous catalyst in the reaction of step (i). The invention further relates to a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst composition obtainable therein.

The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene glycol including the steps of: (i) reacting, in a reactor, at a temperature in the range from equal to or more than 170° C. to equal to or less than 270° C., at least a portion of a carbohydrate source in the presence of hydrogen, a solvent, a homogeneous catalyst, which homogeneous catalyst contains tungsten, and a heterogeneous catalyst, which heterogeneous catalyst contains one or more transition metals from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, yielding ethylene glycol and a spent heterogeneous catalyst; (ii) regenerating the spent heterogeneous catalyst by removing at least a portion of deposited tungsten species from the spent heterogeneous catalyst, yielding a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst; and (iii) using at least a portion of the regenerated heterogeneous catalyst as heterogeneous catalyst in the reaction of step (i). The invention further relates to a regenerated heterogeneous catalyst composition obtainable therein.

A process for dehydrogenating alkane or alkylaromatic compounds comprising contacting the given compound and a dehydrogenation catalyst in a fluidized bed. The dehydrogenation catalyst is prepared from an at least partially deactivated platinum/gallium catalyst on an alumina-based support that is reconstituted by impregnating it with a platinum salt solution, then calcining it at a temperature from 400° C. to 1000° C., under conditions such that it has a platinum content ranging from 1 to 500 ppm, based on weight of catalyst; a gallium content ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 wt %; and a platinum to gallium ratio ranging from 1:20,000 to 1:4. It also has a Pt retention that is equal to or greater than that of a fresh catalyst being used in a same or similar catalytic process.

A process for dehydrogenating alkane or alkylaromatic compounds comprising contacting the given compound and a dehydrogenation catalyst in a fluidized bed. The dehydrogenation catalyst is prepared from an at least partially deactivated platinum/gallium catalyst on an alumina-based support that is reconstituted by impregnating it with a platinum salt solution, then calcining it at a temperature from 400° C. to 1000° C., under conditions such that it has a platinum content ranging from 1 to 500 ppm, based on weight of catalyst; a gallium content ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 wt %; and a platinum to gallium ratio ranging from 1:20,000 to 1:4. It also has a Pt retention that is equal to or greater than that of a fresh catalyst being used in a same or similar catalytic process.

Systems and methods for using and regenerating a catalyst for producing acetic acid from ethane are disclosed. Feed stream comprising ethane and an oxidant including oxygen is flowed to a reactor, in which a catalyst comprising MoVNbPd oxide is disposed. The ethane and the oxidant are reacted in presence of the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce acetic acid. When the catalyst's ability to catalyze the reaction between the ethane and the oxidant is reduced by a predetermined percentage, the flow of the feed stream to the reactor is ceased. A regenerating gas stream is flowed through the reactor to contact the regenerating gas stream with the catalyst under operating conditions to increase the catalyst's ability to catalyze the reaction between the ethane and the oxidant.

Systems and methods for using and regenerating a catalyst for producing acetic acid from ethane are disclosed. Feed stream comprising ethane and an oxidant including oxygen is flowed to a reactor, in which a catalyst comprising MoVNbPd oxide is disposed. The ethane and the oxidant are reacted in presence of the catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce acetic acid. When the catalyst's ability to catalyze the reaction between the ethane and the oxidant is reduced by a predetermined percentage, the flow of the feed stream to the reactor is ceased. A regenerating gas stream is flowed through the reactor to contact the regenerating gas stream with the catalyst under operating conditions to increase the catalyst's ability to catalyze the reaction between the ethane and the oxidant.

A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.

A fluidized catalytic reactor system cycles from 0.05-5% of catalyst at a time through a rejuvenation unit to be heated in the presence of oxygen to maintain catalyst activity. The use of the rejuvenation unit that may be 2% of the size of the main catalyst regeneration unit allows for reduction in equipment size and in catalyst inventory. The catalyst that is sent to the rejuvenation unit may be spent catalyst but may be partially or fully regenerated catalyst. The rejuvenation unit may be heated by combusting fuel or by hot flue gas.

Provided is a hydrophilic phosphorus ligand with the structure of formula 1.

##STR00001##

X is

##STR00002##

Y is

##STR00003##

m is an integer from 1 to 20, A independently is *—O(CH.sub.2).sub.n—, n is an integer from 1 to 5, *- is a bond close to triphenylphosphine, and - is a bond away from triphenylphosphine.

Provided is a hydrophilic phosphorus ligand with the structure of formula 1.

##STR00001##

X is

##STR00002##

Y is

##STR00003##

m is an integer from 1 to 20, A independently is *—O(CH.sub.2).sub.n—, n is an integer from 1 to 5, *- is a bond close to triphenylphosphine, and - is a bond away from triphenylphosphine.