A process is described for reducing the total acid number of a refinery feedstock. In one embodiment, refinery feedstock containing naphthenic acids is contacted with an effective amount of solid catalyst in the presence of an aqueous caustic base, wherein the caustic base is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, for a period of time sufficient to neutralize at least a portion of the naphthenic acids in the feedstock. Thereafter, the aqueous phase is separated from the neutralized refinery feedstock. In another embodiment catalyst is pretreated with a caustic base solution and contacted with refinery feedstock to reducing the total acid number.

Solid base catalysts and their use for the base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to compounds such as aromatics are presented herein. Exemplary catalysts include layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts for BCD of lignin.

Solid base catalysts and their use for the base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to compounds such as aromatics are presented herein. Exemplary catalysts include layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as recyclable, heterogeneous catalysts for BCD of lignin.

Layered double hydroxides having a high surface area (at least 125 m.sup.2/g) and the formula (I)

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)(I)

wherein M and M are different and each is a charged metal cation (and must be present), z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, 0<x<0.9, b is 0 to 10, c=0 to 10, X is an anion, n is the charge on the anion, and a=z(1x)+xy2; AMO-solvent is aqueous miscible organic solvent, may be prepared by a method which comprises a) precipitating a layered double hydroxide having the formula

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O wherein M, M, z, y, x, a, b and X are as defined above from a solution containing the cations of the metals M and M and the anion X.sup.n-; b) ageing the layered double hydroxide precipitate obtained in step a) in the original solution; c) collecting, then washing the layered double hydroxide precipitate; d) dispersing the wet layered double hydroxide in an AMO solvent so as to produce a slurry of the layered double hydroxide in the solvent; e) maintaining the dispersion obtained in step d); and f) recovering and drying the layered double hydroxide.

The high surface area products have low particle size and are particularly suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, sorbents and coatings.

Layered double hydroxides having a high surface area (at least 125 m.sup.2/g) and the formula (I)

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)(I)

wherein M and M are different and each is a charged metal cation (and must be present), z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, 0<x<0.9, b is 0 to 10, c=0 to 10, X is an anion, n is the charge on the anion, and a=z(1x)+xy2; AMO-solvent is aqueous miscible organic solvent, may be prepared by a method which comprises a) precipitating a layered double hydroxide having the formula

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O wherein M, M, z, y, x, a, b and X are as defined above from a solution containing the cations of the metals M and M and the anion X.sup.n-; b) ageing the layered double hydroxide precipitate obtained in step a) in the original solution; c) collecting, then washing the layered double hydroxide precipitate; d) dispersing the wet layered double hydroxide in an AMO solvent so as to produce a slurry of the layered double hydroxide in the solvent; e) maintaining the dispersion obtained in step d); and f) recovering and drying the layered double hydroxide.

The high surface area products have low particle size and are particularly suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, sorbents and coatings.

Disclosed are a catalyst composition for oxidative dehydrogenation and a method of preparing the same. More particularly, disclosed is a catalyst composition comprising a multi-ingredient-based metal oxide catalyst and a mixed metal hydroxide. The catalyst composition and the method of preparing the same according to the present disclosure may prevent loss occurring in a filling process due to superior mechanical durability and wear according to long-term use, may inhibit polymer formation and carbon deposition during reaction, and may provide a superior conversion rate and superior selectivity.

Disclosed are a catalyst composition for oxidative dehydrogenation and a method of preparing the same. More particularly, disclosed is a catalyst composition comprising a multi-ingredient-based metal oxide catalyst and a mixed metal hydroxide. The catalyst composition and the method of preparing the same according to the present disclosure may prevent loss occurring in a filling process due to superior mechanical durability and wear according to long-term use, may inhibit polymer formation and carbon deposition during reaction, and may provide a superior conversion rate and superior selectivity.

The present invention provides a process for the hydrogenation of the levulinic acid to -valerolactone in a single step with a single Pt supported on hydrotalcite catalyst. The process provides conversion of -valerolactone over Pt supported hydrotalcite catalyst at room temperature (25 C.). The process provides a levulinic acid conversion of 34-100% with 20-50 bar hydrogen pressure to give -valerolactone selectivity up to 99%.

The present invention provides a process for the hydrogenation of the levulinic acid to -valerolactone in a single step with a single Pt supported on hydrotalcite catalyst. The process provides conversion of -valerolactone over Pt supported hydrotalcite catalyst at room temperature (25 C.). The process provides a levulinic acid conversion of 34-100% with 20-50 bar hydrogen pressure to give -valerolactone selectivity up to 99%.

There is disclosed a method of constructing a layered double hydroxide (LDH) material comprising selected metal ions, and employing metallic vanadium carbide (V.sub.2C) for promoting conductive properties of the LDH material, wherein the layered LDH material is a trimetallic LDH material. The trimetallic LDH material comprises selected Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, and A.sup.3+ metal ions with its cationic configuration for improving photocatalytic properties of the LDH material, wherein trimetallic nickel-cobalt-aluminium layered double hydroxide (Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yAl.sub.z LDH) and vanadium carbide MXene (V.sub.2C)-based composite is coupled with a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C.sub.3N.sub.4) nanosheet, to form a hybrid-junction photocatalyst. Also disclosed is a layered structure of vanadium carbide (V.sub.2C) MXenes, comprising trimetallic nickel-cobalt-aluminium layered double hydroxide (Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yAl.sub.z LDH) and vanadium carbide MXene (V.sub.2C) coupled with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C.sub.3N.sub.4), forming a Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yAl.sub.z LDH/g-C.sub.3N.sub.4 hybrid-junction photocatalyst.