Described herein are solid acid catalysts and the methods for catalytically preparing ,-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or esters thereof. In one aspect, a zeolite catalyst may be used. The catalyst may, in certain embodiments, be modified to improve the selectivity and/or conversion of a reaction. For instance, a catalyst may be modified by ion exchange to achieve a desirable acidity profile in order to achieve high level of conversion of reactants and selectivity for desirable products of the catalytic reaction. In another aspect, a variety of feed stocks (e.g., starting compositions) may be used including an -hydroxycarboxylic acid, an -hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, a -hydroxycarboxylic acid, a -hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, cyclic esters thereof (e.g., lactide), and combinations thereof.

The present disclosure relates to a process for the preparation of isomers of xylene. The process includes method step of contacting an activated alkylation catalyst composite with toluene and methanol in the presence of an inert gas, at a temperature of 300 to 500 C. to obtain isomers of xylene. The alkylation catalyst composite used in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a molecular sieve loaded with at least one metal ion. The metal loaded on the molecular sieve is at least one alkali earth metal selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, magnesium and calcium.

Generally, regenerable, encapsulated metal oxide catalysts comprising a ceramic matrix and metal catalysts may be used to convert alkanes to alkenes. The encapsulated metal oxide catalyst may be tailored to produce a variety of alkenes including ethylene, butylene, and propylene. Further, the encapsulated metal oxide catalysts advantageously allow for regeneration and reactant recovery for cost effective and environmentally friendly processes.

A catalyst for recycling a plastic chosen from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and combinations thereof includes a porous support having an exterior surface and at least one pore therein, a depolymerization catalyst component comprising a metallocene catalyst disposed on the exterior surface of the porous support, and a reducing catalyst component disposed in the at least one pore. The exterior surface of the porous support comprises less than 10 parts by weight of the reducing catalyst component based on 100 parts by weight of the depolymerization catalyst component as determined using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Moreover, the reducing catalyst component comprises a transition metal selected from the group of iron, nickel, palladium, platinum, and combinations thereof. The at least one pore in the porous support has an average pore size of 10 Angstroms.

The invention provides methods, catalysts and systems for producing styrene from DME and toluene. Zeolite catalysts comprising potassium, rubidium or cesium and containing at least 0.1 wt % B are described. Methods of making the catalysts are also described.

Described is related to a nano-structured composite absorber for air detoxing and deodoring at ambient temperature to prevent harmful chemicals in the air from damaging human health. The nano-structured composite absorber consists of nano-porous carbon, zeolites with nano-sized pores and at least 1 other component chosen from nano-porous rare earth oxides and nano-sized catalysts. The synergetic action of those nano-structured components can effectively remove toxic chemicals including, but not limited to formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene, propene, butadiene, acetone, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, alcohols, chlorine, mercaptans, as well as malodors, such cigarette smoke, net/fish/poultry odors and bathroom/toilet smells.

This invention relates to a process of preparing a catalyst from zeolite and peptized alumina. The invention comprises adding a yttrium compound to the zeolite, either prior to, during, or after its combination with the peptized alumina. The yttrium compound can be added to the zeolite via exchange of yttrium onto the zeolite prior to addition of peptized alumina, or the yttrium can be added as a soluble salt during the combination of the zeolite and peptized alumina. In either embodiment, the zeolite catalyst is then formed from the zeolite, yttrium and peptized alumina, optionally containing other inorganic oxide. This invention is suitable for preparing fluid cracking catalysts.

Mesoporous X and A zeolites and methods for production thereof are disclosed herein. Such mesoporous zeolites can be prepared by contacting an initial zeolite with an acid in conjunction with a mesopore forming agent. The initial zeolite can have a framework silicon-to-aluminum content in the range of from about 1 to about 2.5. Additionally, such mesoporous zeolites can have a total 20 to 135 diameter mesopore volume of at least 0.05 cc/g.

A method of making a microporous crystal material, comprising: a. forming a mixture comprising NaOH, water, and one or more of an aluminum source, a silicon source, and a phosphate source, whereupon the mixture forms a gel; b. heating the gel for a first time period, whereupon a first volume of water is removed from the gel and micoroporous crystal nuclei form, the nuclei having a framework; and c.(if a membrane is to be formed) applying the gel to a solid support seeded with microporous crystals having a framework that is the same as the framework of the nuclei; d. heating the gel for a second time period. during which a second volume of water is added to the gel; wherein the rate of addition of the second volume of water is between about 0.5 and about 2.0 fold the rate of removal of the first volume of water.

Improved alkylation catalysts, alkylation methods, and methods of making alkylation catalysts are described. The alkylation method comprises reaction over a solid acid, zeolite-based catalyst and can be conducted for relatively long periods at steady state conditions. The alkylation catalyst comprises a crystalline zeolite structure, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals, and further having a characteristic catalyst life property. Some catalysts may contain rare earth elements in the range of 10 to 35 wt %. One method of making a catalyst includes a calcination step following exchange of the rare earth element(s) conducted at a temperature of at least 575 C. to stabilize the resulting structure followed by an deammoniation treatment. An improved method of deammoniation uses low temperature oxidation.