The present invention relates to a catalyst based on iron oxide for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons and also a process for producing it. The catalyst comprises at least one iron compound, at least one potassium compound and at least one cerium compound, wherein the at least one iron compound and the at least one potassium compound are at least partly present in the form of one or more K/Fe mixed oxide phases of the general formula K.sub.xFe.sub.yO.sub.z, where x is from 1 to 17; y is from 1 to 22 and z is from 2 to 34, where the catalyst comprises at least 20% by weight, based on the total catalyst, of the K/Fe mixed oxide phases and comprises crystalline cerium dioxide having a crystallite size in the range from 10 nm to 30 nm.

Provided are a method of preparing a multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst, and a multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst prepared thereby. According to the preparation method, since the almost same structure as that of a typical quaternary bismuth-molybdenum catalyst may be obtained by performing two-step co-precipitation, i.e., primary and secondary co-precipitation, of metal components constituting the catalyst, the reduction of catalytic activity due to the deformation of the structure of the catalyst may be suppressed. Also, since the multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst may adjust the number of lattice oxygens consumed during a reaction to increase the catalytic activity, the multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst may reduce the formation of by-products and may improve the conversion rate of reactant and the yield of desired product in a catalytic reaction process using the above catalyst, particularly, a catalytic reaction process under a relatively low temperature condition.

Provided are a method of preparing a multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst, and a multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst prepared thereby. According to the preparation method, since the almost same structure as that of a typical quaternary bismuth-molybdenum catalyst may be obtained by performing two-step co-precipitation, i.e., primary and secondary co-precipitation, of metal components constituting the catalyst, the reduction of catalytic activity due to the deformation of the structure of the catalyst may be suppressed. Also, since the multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst may adjust the number of lattice oxygens consumed during a reaction to increase the catalytic activity, the multicomponent bismuth-molybdenum composite metal oxide catalyst may reduce the formation of by-products and may improve the conversion rate of reactant and the yield of desired product in a catalytic reaction process using the above catalyst, particularly, a catalytic reaction process under a relatively low temperature condition.

A method for producing a catalyst according to the present invention includes: a preparation step of preparing a precursor slurry comprising molybdenum, bismuth, iron, silica, and a carboxylic acid; a drying step of spray-drying the precursor slurry and thereby obtaining a dried particle; and a calcination step of calcining the dried particle, wherein the preparation step comprises: a step (I) of mixing a starting material for silica with the carboxylic acid and thereby preparing a silica-carboxylic acid mixed liquid; and a step (II) of mixing the silica-carboxylic acid mixed liquid, molybdenum, bismuth, and iron.

A method for producing a catalyst according to the present invention includes: a preparation step of preparing a precursor slurry comprising molybdenum, bismuth, iron, silica, and a carboxylic acid; a drying step of spray-drying the precursor slurry and thereby obtaining a dried particle; and a calcination step of calcining the dried particle, wherein the preparation step comprises: a step (I) of mixing a starting material for silica with the carboxylic acid and thereby preparing a silica-carboxylic acid mixed liquid; and a step (II) of mixing the silica-carboxylic acid mixed liquid, molybdenum, bismuth, and iron.

The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein oxygen, water and the alkane and/or alkene are fed to a reactor and are contacted with a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium in the reactor, and wherein the molar ratio of water as fed to the reactor to oxygen as fed to the reactor is smaller than 1:1.

The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms and/or the oxidation of an alkene containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein oxygen, water and the alkane and/or alkene are fed to a reactor and are contacted with a mixed metal oxide catalyst containing molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium in the reactor, and wherein the molar ratio of water as fed to the reactor to oxygen as fed to the reactor is smaller than 1:1.

The invention discloses a binder-free high strength and low steam-to-oil ratio ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst, which is characterized by comprising the following components in percentage by weight: (a) 60-85% Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; (b) 3-25% K.sub.2O; (c) 0.1-5% MoO.sub.3; (d) 3-20% CeO.sub.2; (e) 0.1-5% CaO; (f) 0.1-5% Na.sub.2O; (g) 0.1-5% MnO.sub.2, wherein the weight ratio of sodium oxide to manganese dioxide is 0.1-10, and no binder is added during the preparation of the catalyst. The low steam-to-oil ratio ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst provided by the present invention contains no binder and maintains high strength, and has high activity and stability at low steam-to-oil ratio.

The invention discloses a binder-free high strength and low steam-to-oil ratio ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst, which is characterized by comprising the following components in percentage by weight: (a) 60-85% Fe.sub.2O.sub.3; (b) 3-25% K.sub.2O; (c) 0.1-5% MoO.sub.3; (d) 3-20% CeO.sub.2; (e) 0.1-5% CaO; (f) 0.1-5% Na.sub.2O; (g) 0.1-5% MnO.sub.2, wherein the weight ratio of sodium oxide to manganese dioxide is 0.1-10, and no binder is added during the preparation of the catalyst. The low steam-to-oil ratio ethylbenzene dehydrogenation catalyst provided by the present invention contains no binder and maintains high strength, and has high activity and stability at low steam-to-oil ratio.

Bulk catalysts comprised of nickel, molybdenum, tungsten and titanium and methods for synthesizing bulk catalysts are provided. The catalysts are useful for hydroprocessing, particularly hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation, of hydrocarbon feedstocks.