The present invention is directed to a method for generating oxygen comprising providing at least one oxygen source, providing at least one ionic liquid, providing at least one metal oxide compound, wherein the oxygen source is a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in the temperature range from 10 C. to +50 C., and the metal oxide compound is an oxide of one single metal or of two or more different metals, said metal(s) being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements, and contacting the oxygen source, the ionic liquid, and the metal oxide compound.

We provide a process for regenerating a used acidic ionic liquid catalyst which has been deactivated by conjunct polymers in a reactor, by removing at least 57 wt % of the conjunct polymers originally present in the used acidic ionic liquid catalyst in a separate regeneration reactor, so as to increase the activity of the catalyst. We also provide a regenerated used acidic ionic liquid catalyst having increased activity.

Catalysts for the dehydration of lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof in liquid phase comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid are provided.

An integrated process for gasoline production is described. The process includes introducing a feed comprising n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbons into a disproportionation reaction zone in the presence of a disproportionation catalyst to form a disproportionation mixture comprising iso-C.sub.4 and C.sub.6+ disproportionation products and unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbons. An iso-C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream and an olefin feed are introduced into an alkylation reaction zone in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation mixture comprising alkylate and unreacted iso-C.sub.4 paraffins. The disproportionation mixture and the alkylation mixture are combined, and the combined mixture is separated into at least a stream comprising the alkylate product, an iso-C.sub.4 stream, and an unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon stream. The iso-C.sub.4 stream is recycled to the alkylation reaction zone, and the unreacted n-C.sub.5 hydrocarbon stream is recycled to the disproportionation reaction zone. The stream comprising the alkylate product is recovered.

Catalysts for the dehydration of lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof in liquid phase comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid are provided.

Catalysts for the dehydration of lactic acid, lactic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof in liquid phase comprising an ionic liquid (IL) and an acid are provided.

A trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound having a formula:

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is independently selected from C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbyl; and X is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, or combinations thereof is described. An ionic liquid catalyst composition incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, methods of making the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound, and alkylation processes incorporating the trialkylphosphonium haloaluminate compound are also described.

The invention concerns ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention is comprised of an amide or one of its salts, including an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M.sup.+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO.sup.+, an ammonium NH.sub.4.sup.+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic portion matches the formula R.sub.FSO.sub.xN.sup.?Z, where R.sub.F is a perflourinated group, x is 1 or 3, and Z is an electroattractive substituent. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.

A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.

Provided is a method for purifying a difluorophosphate, in which a difluorophosphate is purified to a high purity. The method includes a method for purifying a difluorophosphate, comprising bringing hydrogen fluoride into contact with a difluorophosphate containing an impurity and subsequently heating and drying the difluorophosphate, or bringing the hydrogen fluoride into contact with the difluorophosphate containing the impurity while heating and drying the difluorophosphate containing the impurity, thereby removing the impurity.