The present disclosure pertains to a new synthetic method for the preparation of 3,6-dimethylhexahydrobenzofuran-2-one, a derivative of mint lactone, and an important organoleptic compound which finds use in the flavor and fragrance industries. Applicants' novel synthetic route is also applicable to other alkene compounds.

A catalyst composition comprising MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and one or more further alkaline earth metal oxides, provides for outstanding catalytic production of propylene when employed together with a metathesis catalyst.

Disclosed is a catalyst for producing an olefin, the catalyst having an excellent conversion and excellent selectivity, and a method for preparing the catalyst. The catalyst for producing an olefin, according to the present invention, includes: a support including alumina and an auxiliary support component; a main catalyst including an active metal oxide supported on the support; and a co-catalyst including an oxide of an alkali metal and a Group 6B transition metal.

Disclosed is a catalyst for producing an olefin, the catalyst having an excellent conversion and excellent selectivity, and a method for preparing the catalyst. The catalyst for producing an olefin, according to the present invention, includes: a support including alumina and an auxiliary support component; a main catalyst including an active metal oxide supported on the support; and a co-catalyst including an oxide of an alkali metal and a Group 6B transition metal.

The honeycomb catalyst body is equipped with a honeycomb structure body having partition walls that define a plurality of cells extending from a first end face as one of the end faces to a second end face as the other end face and serving as through channels of a fluid. The partition walls each have a base layer containing from 50 to 90 mass % of zeolite and a coat layer with which the surface of the base layer 11 is coated with a thickness of from 1 to 50 μm. The coat layer is either a coat layer (A) containing from 1 to 5 mass % vanadia and titania or a coat layer (B) containing from 1 to 5 mass % vanadia and a composite oxide of titania and tungsten oxide.

The honeycomb catalyst body is equipped with a honeycomb structure body having partition walls that define a plurality of cells extending from a first end face as one of the end faces to a second end face as the other end face and serving as through channels of a fluid. The partition walls each have a base layer containing from 50 to 90 mass % of zeolite and a coat layer with which the surface of the base layer 11 is coated with a thickness of from 1 to 50 μm. The coat layer is either a coat layer (A) containing from 1 to 5 mass % vanadia and titania or a coat layer (B) containing from 1 to 5 mass % vanadia and a composite oxide of titania and tungsten oxide.

A process for the vapour phase chemical dehydration of ethanol in a reactor in the presence of a supported hetero-polyacid catalyst, said process comprising a step of contacting the ethanol with the heteropolyacid catalyst, wherein the heteropoly acid catalyst comprises a partially neutralised silicotungstic acid salt, wherein the partially neutralised silicotungstic acid salt has from 30% to 70% of the hydrogen atoms replaced with cations selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, transition metal cations, ammonium cations, and mixtures thereof; but with the proviso that the alkali metal cation is not lithium; and wherein, after attaining steady-state performance of the catalyst, said process is operated continuously with the same supported heteropolyacid catalyst for at least 150 hours, without any regeneration of the catalyst.

A process for the vapour phase chemical dehydration of ethanol in a reactor in the presence of a supported hetero-polyacid catalyst, said process comprising a step of contacting the ethanol with the heteropolyacid catalyst, wherein the heteropoly acid catalyst comprises a partially neutralised silicotungstic acid salt, wherein the partially neutralised silicotungstic acid salt has from 30% to 70% of the hydrogen atoms replaced with cations selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, transition metal cations, ammonium cations, and mixtures thereof; but with the proviso that the alkali metal cation is not lithium; and wherein, after attaining steady-state performance of the catalyst, said process is operated continuously with the same supported heteropolyacid catalyst for at least 150 hours, without any regeneration of the catalyst.

A new catalyst hydroisomerizes C18 paraffins from fatty acids to a high degree to produce a composition with acceptable freeze point which retains 18 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon molecule for jet fuel. We have discovered a fuel composition comprising at least 14 wt % hydrocarbon molecules having at least 18 carbon atoms and a freeze point not higher than −40° C. The composition also may exhibit a exhibiting a final boiling point of no more than 300° C. The hydroisomerization process can be once through or a portion of the product diesel stream may be selectively hydrocracked or recycled to hydroisomerization to obtain a fuel composition that meets jet fuel specifications.

A new catalyst hydroisomerizes C18 paraffins from fatty acids to a high degree to produce a composition with acceptable freeze point which retains 18 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon molecule for jet fuel. We have discovered a fuel composition comprising at least 14 wt % hydrocarbon molecules having at least 18 carbon atoms and a freeze point not higher than −40° C. The composition also may exhibit a exhibiting a final boiling point of no more than 300° C. The hydroisomerization process can be once through or a portion of the product diesel stream may be selectively hydrocracked or recycled to hydroisomerization to obtain a fuel composition that meets jet fuel specifications.