A process for producing ethylbenzene is described in which benzene and ethylene are supplied to an alkylation reaction zone. Also added to the alkylation reaction zone is a C.sub.3+ olefin in an amount of at least 200 ppm by weight of the ethylene supplied to the alkylation reaction zone. The benzene, ethylene and C.sub.3+ olefin are contacted with an alkylation catalyst in the alkylation reaction zone to alkylate at least part of the benzene and produce an alkylation effluent comprising ethylbenzene, polyethylated benzene and at least one mono-C.sub.3+ alkyl benzene. The alkylation effluent is separated into a first product fraction comprising ethylbenzene and a second fraction comprising polyethylated benzene and the at least one mono-C.sub.3+ alkyl benzene. The second fraction is then contacted with benzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst to convert at least part of the polyethylated benzene to ethylbenzene and produce a transalkylation effluent.

A fluidized-bed catalyst suitable for the production of halogenated aromatic nitriles includes an active component and a support. The active component is a complex having the following composition expressed in atomic ratio:
VP.sub.aCr.sub.bA.sub.cM.sub.dO.sub.x, wherein A represents at least one metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, La, Ce, Nb, Mo, W, Co, Zn, Fe, Ni, B, Sb, Bi, As, Ga, Ge, Sn, and In; in the XRD spectrum of the catalyst, diffraction peaks are present at 2=27.80.5 and 2=13.80.5, and the ratio of the height (I.sub.1) of the diffraction peak at 2=27.80.5 to the height (I.sub.2) of the diffraction peak at 2=13.80.5 is 3.5-6, i.e. I.sub.1:I.sub.2=3.5-6.

The invention relates to poly oxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+{M.sub.s[MM.sub.15X.sub.10O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q]}.sup.m or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal-clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

Catalyst compositions comprising a zeolite and a mesoporous support or binder are disclosed. The mesoporous support or binder comprises a mesoporous metal oxide having a particle diameter of greater than or equal to 20 m at 50% of the cumulative pore size distribution (d50). Also disclosed are processes for producing a mono-alkylated aromatic compound (e.g., ethylbenzene or cumene) which exhibit improved yield of the mono-alkylated aromatic compound using alkylation catalysts comprising one or more of these catalyst compositions.

According to one or more embodiments, cationic polymers may be produced which include one or more monomers containing cations. Such cationic polymers may be utilized as structure directing agents to for mesoporous zeolites. The mesoporous zeolites may include micropores as well as mesopores, and may have a surface area of greater than 350 m.sup.2/g and a pore volume of greater than 0.3 cm.sup.3/g. Also described are core/shell zeolites, where at least the shell portion includes a mesoporous zeolite material.

According to one or more embodiments, cationic polymers may be produced which include one or more monomers containing cations. Such cationic polymers may be utilized as structure directing agents to for mesoporous zeolites. The mesoporous zeolites may include micropores as well as mesopores, and may have a surface area of greater than 350 m.sup.2/g and a pore volume of greater than 0.3 cm.sup.3/g. Also described are core/shell zeolites, where at least the shell portion includes a mesoporous zeolite material.

Surface hydroxyl groups on porous and nonporous metal oxides, such as silica gel and alumina, were metalated with catalyst precursors, such as complexes of earth abundant metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn and Mg). The metalated metal oxide catalysts provide a versatile family of recyclable and reusable single-site solid catalysts for catalyzing a variety of organic transformations. The catalysts can also be integrated into a flow reactor or a supercritical fluid reactor.

A composition of matter is provided comprising hierarchically ordered crystalline microporous material having well-defined long-range mesoporous ordering of lamellar symmetry. The composition possesses mesopores having walls of crystalline microporous material and a mass of mesostructure between mesopores of crystalline microporous material. Long-range ordering is defined by presence of secondary peaks in an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and/or lamellar symmetry observable by microscopy.

Catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS), e.g., of fuel such DBT in a batch reactor, may include Ce-modified SBA CoMo-sulfided catalysts. The dispersion and catalytic activity of the active species (CoMoS.sub.2) may be influenced by the CeSi network in the support. The physico-chemical properties of such catalyststextural properties, crystallinity, metal oxide reducibility, and Mo phaseswere established, and BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy analysis showed up to 2.5 wt. % Ce incorporation into the Si-network in SBA-15. Up to 2.5 wt. % Ce loading on the SBA-15 support can provide large BET surface area and total pore volume. The metal oxide reducibility and MoS.sub.2 phase in the sulfided 2.5CeSCoMo catalyst indicate moderate metal-support interaction at 2.5Ce wt. %. Improved HDS activity was shown with Ce loading up to 2.5 wt. %, possibly due to Ce's facilitation of metal oxide reduction and dispersion of the MoS.sub.2 active phase via metal-support interaction.

A nanotherapeutic supported by a hierarchical silica composite with dual imaging capability (e.g. fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging), a method of preparing the nanotherapeutic, and a method of treating cancer. Also disclosed is a method of oxidatively dehydrogenating ethane using a catalytic system supported by a hierarchical silica composite.