The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, the method comprising contacting a catalyst composition with a process gas. The catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids. The process gas includes ethylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 20 mol. %; acetylene, present in the process gas in an amount of at least 1 ppm; and 0 to 190 ppm or at least 600 ppm carbon monoxide. At least 90% of the acetylene present in the process gas is hydrogenated, and the selective hydrogenation is conducted without thermal runaway.

Methods for making acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid in liquid phase are provided.

An ionic liquid as a solvent in the hydration reaction of α-pinene to α-terpineol. The ionic liquid is obtained from the reaction of an amine and an inorganic acid. The use of the ionic liquid as solvent favors the selectivity towards the formation of α-terpineol and once the reaction product has been brought to room temperature, the organic phase can be physically separated from the inorganic one by decantation. The inorganic phase contains the ionic liquid, water and reaction catalyst and can be directly reused for a new reaction batch.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a variety of methods for starting up reactors for use in methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene using a catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids.

The present invention provides a catalyst system for producing cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and epoxide-based compounds comprising: a pre-catalyst; and a co-catalyst wherein said pre catalyst is BiCl.sub.3 and said co-catalyst is selected from tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB), tetra-n-butylammonium iodide (TBAI), tetra-n-butylphosphonium bromide (PBu.sub.4Br), tetra-n-butylphosphonium iodide (PBu.sub.4I) or mixtures thereof.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a catalyst composition for the oligomerization of ethylene and a respective catalyst composition pre-formation unit.

Methods for making acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid in liquid phase are provided.

Methods for making acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof by contacting a feed stream containing lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with a molten salt catalyst comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid in liquid phase are provided.

A liquid phase selective oxidation process is described. The process involves the partial oxidation of alkanes to partially oxidized products. A lower alkane, a solvent, and a soluble metal catalyst are contacted in the presence of an oxidizing agent in a reaction zone under partial oxidation conditions to produce the partially oxidized products. The partially oxidized products include one or more of lower alkyl alcohols, lower alkyl ketones, and lower alkyl acetates. The soluble metal catalyst is a soluble metal salt of cobalt, manganese, chromium, titanium, copper, nickel, vanadium, iron, molybdenum, tin, cerium, zirconium, or combinations thereof, and the promoter comprises a bromine source, an imide source, or combinations thereof.

The present disclosure relates to methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene, to methods for starting up a selective hydrogenation reactor, and to hydrogenation catalysts useful in such methods. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a variety of methods for starting up reactors for use in methods for selectively hydrogenating acetylene using a catalyst composition comprises a porous support, palladium, and one or more ionic liquids.