An oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent is provided. A method of producing olefins from hydrocarbons with a concomitant production of water (oxidative dehydrogenation), using the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent is also provided. The sulfur oxygen transfer reagent can be used as an oxygen transfer reagent, and therefore acts as a non-metal carrier, for oxygen in a redox looping reactor for an oxidative dehydrogenation process such as the conversion of ethane to ethylene. The reduced forms of oxides of sulfur, formed in in this oxidative dehydrogenation process, can be re-oxidized with air and generate useful process heat. Also provided are methods of using the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent, and an apparatus for effecting the oxidative dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon feed. Methods of producing the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent are also provided.

An oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent is provided. A method of producing olefins from hydrocarbons with a concomitant production of water (oxidative dehydrogenation), using the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent is also provided. The sulfur oxygen transfer reagent can be used as an oxygen transfer reagent, and therefore acts as a non-metal carrier, for oxygen in a redox looping reactor for an oxidative dehydrogenation process such as the conversion of ethane to ethylene. The reduced forms of oxides of sulfur, formed in in this oxidative dehydrogenation process, can be re-oxidized with air and generate useful process heat. Also provided are methods of using the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent, and an apparatus for effecting the oxidative dehydrogenation of the hydrocarbon feed. Methods of producing the oxide of sulfur oxygen transfer reagent are also provided.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

A supported silver catalyst and use thereof in a process for producing an alkylene oxide, such as ethylene oxide, by the direct oxidation of an alkylene with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, wherein the catalyst provides improved stability and improved resilience to reactor upsets and timely recovery to substantially pre-upset levels of catalyst activity and/or efficiency. In some embodiments, the catalyst also exhibits improved activity. A catalyst capable of producing ethylene oxide at a selectivity of at least 87 percent while achieving a work rate of at least 184 kg/h/m.sup.3 at a temperature of no greater than 235 C. when operated in a process where the inlet feed to a reactor containing the catalyst comprises ethylene, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, wherein the concentration of carbon dioxide in the inlet feed is greater than or equal to 2 mole percent.

A supported silver catalyst and use thereof in a process for producing an alkylene oxide, such as ethylene oxide, by the direct oxidation of an alkylene with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, wherein the catalyst provides improved stability and improved resilience to reactor upsets and timely recovery to substantially pre-upset levels of catalyst activity and/or efficiency. In some embodiments, the catalyst also exhibits improved activity. A catalyst capable of producing ethylene oxide at a selectivity of at least 87 percent while achieving a work rate of at least 184 kg/h/m.sup.3 at a temperature of no greater than 235 C. when operated in a process where the inlet feed to a reactor containing the catalyst comprises ethylene, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, wherein the concentration of carbon dioxide in the inlet feed is greater than or equal to 2 mole percent.

A redox composition includes a carbohydrate material and a catalytic molar amount of an organic compound positioned in catalytic relationship with the carbohydrate material to catalyze oxidation of the carbohydrate material in an environment in which the carbohydrate material would not otherwise oxidize.

A redox composition includes a carbohydrate material and a catalytic molar amount of an organic compound positioned in catalytic relationship with the carbohydrate material to catalyze oxidation of the carbohydrate material in an environment in which the carbohydrate material would not otherwise oxidize.

The invention is a method and a sulfuric acid plant design for reduction of start-up SO.sub.2, SO.sub.3 and H.sub.2SO.sub.4 emissions in sulfuric acid production, in which SO2 is converted to SO.sub.3 in n successive catalyst beds, where n is an integer >1. The final catalytic beds are used as absorbents for SO.sub.2 to SO3 during the start-up procedure, and one or more of the m beds downstream the first bed are purged, either separately or simultaneously, with hot gas, where m is an integer >1 and m<n, during the previous shut-down. Also, one separate purge with hot gas is used on the final bed.

The invention is a method and a sulfuric acid plant design for reduction of start-up SO.sub.2, SO.sub.3 and H.sub.2SO.sub.4 emissions in sulfuric acid production, in which SO2 is converted to SO.sub.3 in n successive catalyst beds, where n is an integer >1. The final catalytic beds are used as absorbents for SO.sub.2 to SO3 during the start-up procedure, and one or more of the m beds downstream the first bed are purged, either separately or simultaneously, with hot gas, where m is an integer >1 and m<n, during the previous shut-down. Also, one separate purge with hot gas is used on the final bed.