The present invention is directed to processes from producing beta-lactone and beta-lactone derivatives using heterogenous catalysts. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the processes comprise the steps: passing a feed stream comprising an epoxide reagent and a carbon monoxide reagent to a reaction zone; contacting the epoxide reagent and the carbon monoxide reagent with a heterogenous catalyst to produce a beta-lactone product in the reaction zone; and removing the beta-lactone product from the reaction zone. In preferred embodiments, the heterogenous catalyst comprises a solid support containing a cationic Lewis acid functional group and a metal carbonyl compound comprising at least one of anionic metal carbonyl compound or a neutral metal carbonyl compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the epoxide reagent and carbon monoxide reagent have a biobased content.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth oxide content of about 4% to about 12% by weight, a phosphorus content of about 0% to about 10% by weight, a sodium oxide content of no more than about 1.0% by weight, a total pore volume of about 0.36 to 0.48 mL/g, a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores to the total pore volume of about 20% to about 40%, a lattice constant of about 2.440 nm to about 2.455 nm, a percentage of the non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 10%, a lattice collapse temperature of not lower than about 1060 C., and a ratio of B acid to L acid of no less than about 3.50. The preparation of the molecular sieve includes ion-exchange with rare earth, hydrothermal roasting, gas phase ultra-stabilization, acid treatment, and an optional phosphorus modification.

Described are fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) compositions, methods of manufacture and use. FCC catalyst compositions comprise particles containing a non-zeolitic component and one or more boron oxide components. In embodiments, the FCC catalyst composition contains a zeolite component and optionally a rare earth component and a transition alumina. FCC catalytic compositions may comprise a first particle type containing one or more boron oxide components and a first matrix component mixed with a second particle type containing a second matrix component, and a zeolite. The FCC catalyst compositions can be used to crack hydrocarbon feeds, particularly resid feeds containing high V and Ni, resulting in lower hydrogen and coke yields.

This invention describes methods of alkylating isobutane which include a catalytic reaction system comprising a crystalline zeolite catalyst and a rare earth-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (RE-MSA). The crystalline zeolite catalyst comprises sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals; and up to 5 wt % of Pt, Pd and or Ni, and acid-site density (including both Lewis and Bronsted acid sites) of at least 100 mole/gm. The RE-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (Re-MSA) comprising sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 1 wt % of alkali metals, RE (rare earth elements) in the range of 10 to 30 wt % and transition metals selected from groups 9-11 in the range from 2 wt % to 10 wt; and acid-site density of no more than 30 mole/gm. The invention also includes methods of making RE-MSA.

Process for the preparation of a catalyst and a catalyst comprising the use of more than one silica source is provided herein. Thus, in one embodiment, the invention provides a particulate FCC catalyst comprising about 5 to about 60 wt % one or more zeolites, about 15 to about 35 wt % quasicrystalline boehmite (QCB), about 0 to about 35 wt % microcrystalline boehmite (MCB), greater than about 0 to about 15 wt % silica from sodium stabilized basic colloidal silica, greater than about 0 to about 30 wt % silica from acidic colloidal silica or polysilicic acid, and the balance clay and the process for making the same. This process results in attrition resistant catalysts with a good accessibility.

Disclosed herein is a process for producing para-xylene comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a feedstock comprising toluene with a first catalyst under effective vapor phase toluene disproportionation conditions to disproportionate said toluene and produce a first product comprising benzene, unreacted toluene and greater than equilibrium amounts of para-xylene; and (b) contacting a feedstock comprising C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene with a second catalyst in the presence of 0 wt. % or more of hydrogen having a 0 to 10 hydrogen/hydrocarbon molar ratio under effective C.sub.9+ transalkylation conditions to transalkylate said C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a second product comprising xylenes.

A process for producing xylene from C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons comprises contacting a first feedstock comprising C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons with a first catalyst in the presence of 0 wt. % or more of hydrogen under effective vapor phase dealkylation conditions to dealkylate part of the C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a first product comprising benzene, toluene and residual C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons. A second feedstock comprising C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene and/or toluene is contacted with a second catalyst under effective liquid phase C.sub.9+ transalkylation conditions to transalkylate at least part of the C.sub.9+ aromatic hydrocarbons and produce a second product comprising xylenes.

A catalytic cracking catalyst has a rare earth modified Y-type molecular sieve, an additive-containing alumina binder, and a clay. The rare earth modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth oxide content of about 12 wt %, a phosphorus content of about 0-10 wt %, a sodium oxide content of no more than about 1.0 wt %, a total pore volume of about 0.36-0.48 mL/g, a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 20-40%, a lattice constant of about 2.440-2.455 nm, a percentage of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 10%, a lattice collapse temperature of not lower than about 1060 C., and a ratio of B acid to L acid in the total acid content of the modified Y-type molecular sieve of no less than about 3.50.

A process of making an aromatization catalyst comprising: (a) mixing a zeolite, a binder, and water to form a mixture; (b) extruding the mixture to form a green extrudate; (c) drying the green extrudate to form a dried green extrudate; (d) calcining the dried green extrudate to form a support, wherein calcining the dried green extrudate is the only calcination step in the process; (e) washing the support to form a washed support; (f) drying the washed support to form a dried washed support; (g) impregnating the dried washed support with a Group 8-10 transition metal compound and at least one halide-containing compound to form a metalized-halided material; and (h) vacuum drying the metalized-halided material to form a dried metalized-halided material which is the aromatization catalyst.

Catalysts and methods for use in conversion of glycerides and free fatty acids to biodiesel are described. A batch or continuous process may be used with the catalysts for transesterification of triglycerides with an alkyl alcohol to produce corresponding mono carboxylic acid esters and glycerol in high yields and purity. Similarly, alkyl and aryl carboxylic acids and free fatty acids are also converted to corresponding alkyl esters. Catalysts are capable of simultaneous esterification and transesterification under same process conditions. The described catalysts are thermostable, long lasting, and highly active.