A catalyst, useful for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, comprising molybdenum, vanadium, tellurium, tantalum, and oxygen, prepared using a stage hydrothermal synthesis procedure, is provided. The catalyst comprises from 30 to 50 wt. % amorphous content and may be combined with a support/carrier material to form a catalyst material. The described catalysts and catalyst materials demonstrate high selectivity for ethylene at higher temperatures, show little to no decline in conversion and selectivity over time, and do not appear to be sensitive to low residual oxygen concentrations.

The invention relates to catalyst compositions comprising a complex of catalytic oxides comprising molybdenum, bismuth, cerium, iron, chromium, at least one element of group A, at least one element of group B, and optionally at least one element of group C wherein the relative ratios of these elements are represented by Formula (1): Mo.sub.12Bi.sub.aCe.sub.bFe.sub.cCr.sub.dA.sub.eB.sub.fC.sub.gO.sub.x. The invention also relates to a process for the ammoxidation of an olefin comprising reacting in the vapor phase at an elevated temperature and pressure the olefin with a molecular oxygen containing gas and ammonia in the presence of the catalyst composition.

A hydrogenation catalyst, and preparation and use thereof are provided. The catalyst has a support and a hydrogenation active metal component, a phosphorus component and an organic complexing component supported on the support. The hydrogenation active metal component has a Group VIII metal and a Group VIB metal, the organic complexing component has an alcohol, a carboxylic acid, and/or an amine. The catalyst has a spectrum obtained by a temperature-programmed oxidation test exhibiting at least two CO.sub.2 release peaks, the first release peak being in the range of 200-300 C., the second release peak being in the range of 300-400 C. The ratio of the peak height of the first release peak to the peak height of the second release peak is in the range of 0.5-5:1.

A hydrogenation catalyst, and preparation and use thereof are provided. The catalyst has a support and a hydrogenation active metal component, a phosphorus component and an organic complexing component supported on the support. The hydrogenation active metal component has a Group VIII metal and a Group VIB metal, the organic complexing component has an alcohol, a carboxylic acid, and/or an amine. The catalyst has a spectrum obtained by a temperature-programmed oxidation test exhibiting at least two CO.sub.2 release peaks, the first release peak being in the range of 200-300 C., the second release peak being in the range of 300-400 C. The ratio of the peak height of the first release peak to the peak height of the second release peak is in the range of 0.5-5:1.

A disproportionation and transalkylation catalyst can be used in the catalytic conversion of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons. The catalyst contains an acidic molecular sieve, a first metal component immobilized on the acidic molecular sieve and an oxide additive. The first metal contained in the first metal component is at least one selected from the group of Group VB metals, Group VIB metals and Group VIIB metals, the catalyst has a medium strong acid content of 0.05-2.0 mmol/g of catalyst, and a ratio of the medium strong acid content to the total acid content of 60-99%. When used in the catalytic conversion of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, the catalyst exhibits high reaction activity, low aromatic hydrocarbon loss rate.

A disproportionation and transalkylation catalyst can be used in the catalytic conversion of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons. The catalyst contains an acidic molecular sieve, a first metal component immobilized on the acidic molecular sieve and an oxide additive. The first metal contained in the first metal component is at least one selected from the group of Group VB metals, Group VIB metals and Group VIIB metals, the catalyst has a medium strong acid content of 0.05-2.0 mmol/g of catalyst, and a ratio of the medium strong acid content to the total acid content of 60-99%. When used in the catalytic conversion of alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons, the catalyst exhibits high reaction activity, low aromatic hydrocarbon loss rate.

The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene by oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane, comprising: a) supplying ethane and oxygen to a first ODH zone which is formed by multiple reactor tubes containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; b) contacting the ethane and oxygen with the catalyst resulting in multiple effluent streams, wherein the multiple reactor tubes are cooled by a coolant; c) mixing at least a portion of the multiple effluent streams from step b) resulting in a mixture comprising ethylene, unconverted ethane and unconverted oxygen; d) supplying at least a portion of the mixture from step c) to a second ODH zone containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; e) contacting at least a portion of the mixture from step c) with the catalyst in the second ODH zone resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and unconverted ethane.

The invention relates to a process for the production of ethylene by oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane, comprising: a) supplying ethane and oxygen to a first ODH zone which is formed by multiple reactor tubes containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; b) contacting the ethane and oxygen with the catalyst resulting in multiple effluent streams, wherein the multiple reactor tubes are cooled by a coolant; c) mixing at least a portion of the multiple effluent streams from step b) resulting in a mixture comprising ethylene, unconverted ethane and unconverted oxygen; d) supplying at least a portion of the mixture from step c) to a second ODH zone containing a mixed metal oxide ODH catalyst bed; e) contacting at least a portion of the mixture from step c) with the catalyst in the second ODH zone resulting in a stream comprising ethylene and unconverted ethane.

A reactor for producing acrolein and/or acrylic acid from propylene comprises an inlet for propylene to enter the reactor, an outlet for reaction products to exit the reactor, and a catalyst bed disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The catalyst bed comprises a molybdenum and bismuth based mixed oxide catalyst. The catalyst closest to the inlet of the reactor, CAT.sub.inlet, produces a lower amount of maleic anhydride to the total amount of acrolein and acrylic acid compared to the catalyst closest to the outlet of the reactor, CAT.sub.outlet.

Provided is a method for preparing a diol. In the method, a saccharide and hydrogen as raw materials are contacted with a catalyst in water to prepare the diol. The employed catalyst is a composite catalyst comprised of a main catalyst and a cocatalyst, wherein the main catalyst is a water-insoluble acid-resistant alloy; and the cocatalyst is a soluble tungstate and/or soluble tungsten compound. The method uses an acid-resistant, inexpensive and stable alloy needless of a support as a main catalyst, and can guarantee a high yield of the diol in the case where the production cost is relatively low.