A catalyst for the dehydrogenation of alkanes to alkenes comprises a catalytically active material supported on a carrier, wherein the catalytically active material is a metallic sulfide (MeS) comprising Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo or W or any combination of two or more metals selected from Pb, Sn, Zn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo and W. The catalyst is regenerated in several steps. The dehydrogenation is carried out at a temperature between 450 and 650 C. and a pressure from 0.9 bar below ambient pressure to 5 bar above ambient pressure.

Ethane may be catalytically oxidatively dehydrogenated to ethylene at high conversions and high selectivity in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor in the presence of oxygen in the feed in an amount above the flammability limit. The reactor has an attached regeneration reactor to regenerate the catalyst and cycle back to the CFB.

Ethane may be catalytically oxidatively dehydrogenated to ethylene at high conversions and high selectivity in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor in the presence of oxygen in the feed in an amount above the flammability limit. The reactor has an attached regeneration reactor to regenerate the catalyst and cycle back to the CFB.

An industrial furnace and a method for roasting or regenerating spent petroleum catalysts. The furnace particularly includes a device to set the catalysts in motion along the bottom of the furnace to cause the catalysts to circulate from the inlet towards the outlet of the furnace; a first zone decarbonizing the spent catalysts to obtain decarbonized catalysts, followed by: a second zone including a plurality of oxygen feed devices distributed along the length of the second zone and placing the decarbonized catalysts in contact with the oxygen feed, the second zone desulfurizing the decarbonized catalysts to obtain roasted or regenerated catalysts.

An industrial furnace and a method for roasting or regenerating spent petroleum catalysts. The furnace particularly includes a device to set the catalysts in motion along the bottom of the furnace to cause the catalysts to circulate from the inlet towards the outlet of the furnace; a first zone decarbonizing the spent catalysts to obtain decarbonized catalysts, followed by: a second zone including a plurality of oxygen feed devices distributed along the length of the second zone and placing the decarbonized catalysts in contact with the oxygen feed, the second zone desulfurizing the decarbonized catalysts to obtain roasted or regenerated catalysts.

We provide a process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst which has been deactivated by conjunct polymers in a reactor, by removing at least 57 wt % of the conjunct polymers originally present in the used acidic ionic liquid catalyst in a separate regeneration reactor, so as to increase the activity of the catalyst. We also provide a regenerated used acidic ionic liquid catalyst having increased activity.

We provide a process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst which has been deactivated by conjunct polymers in a reactor, by removing at least 57 wt % of the conjunct polymers originally present in the used acidic ionic liquid catalyst in a separate regeneration reactor, so as to increase the activity of the catalyst. We also provide a regenerated used acidic ionic liquid catalyst having increased activity.

A spent sulfuric acid catalyst from an alkylation unit is regenerated via a paired oxidation electrolysis, wherein active intermediates are generated via both anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction without adding an additional organic peroxide during the electrolysis. The organic impurities in the spent sulfuric acid catalyst are decomposed by the active intermediates, and removed therefrom via evaporation.

A spent sulfuric acid catalyst from an alkylation unit is regenerated via a paired oxidation electrolysis, wherein active intermediates are generated via both anodic oxidation and cathodic reduction without adding an additional organic peroxide during the electrolysis. The organic impurities in the spent sulfuric acid catalyst are decomposed by the active intermediates, and removed therefrom via evaporation.

The invention provides a catalyst system and method for the deoxygenation of hydrocarbons, such as bio-oil, using a sulphide-sulfate or an oxide-carbonate (LDH) system. The invention extends to a pyrolysis process of a carbonaceous bio-mass wherein a first combustion zone is carried out in one or more combustion fluidised beds in which a particulate material including chemically looping deoxygenation catalyst particles is fluidised and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidised beds in which the hot particles, including the catalyst particles, heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass, said combustion zone being operated at a temperature of from 250 C. to 1100 C., typically around 900 C., and the pyrolysis zone being operated at a temperature of from 250 C. to 900 C., typically 450 C. to 600 C., said catalyst particles being oxygenated in the pyrolysis zone in the presence of oxygenates in the pyrolysis oil and regenerated in the combustion zone either by calcining to drive off the carbon oxides, such as CO.sub.2, or by reduction to its form which is active for deoxygenation of the pyrolysis oil.