A superacid polymeric catalyst having both Lewis acidity and Brønsted acidity is described, along with methods of making and methods of using the same.

A superacid polymeric catalyst having both Lewis acidity and Brønsted acidity is described, along with methods of making and methods of using the same.

Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Pyrrole compounds are produced by contacting a furan compound, a solid acid catalyst, and water to form a reaction mixture containing a γ-dicarbonyl compound, and then contacting the γ-dicarbonyl compound with ammonia or an ammonium salt to form a reaction product mixture containing the pyrrole compound. A representative pyrrole compound that can be synthesized using these processes is 2,5-dimethylpyrrole.

Methods for preserving catalytic activity of a PSA polymer membrane in a humid environment by immobilizing in the membrane an organic acid having a pKa greater than the pKa of the PSA polymer membrane; optical sensors based on the PSA membranes further including an immobilized organic reagent capable of reacting with a target compound in a humid environment to produce a detectable color shifted product; and non-invasive methods for estimating blood glucose concentration by utilizing an optical sensor to detect concentration of acetone in exhaled human breath and correlating it to blood glucose concentration.

Methods for preserving catalytic activity of a PSA polymer membrane in a humid environment by immobilizing in the membrane an organic acid having a pKa greater than the pKa of the PSA polymer membrane; optical sensors based on the PSA membranes further including an immobilized organic reagent capable of reacting with a target compound in a humid environment to produce a detectable color shifted product; and non-invasive methods for estimating blood glucose concentration by utilizing an optical sensor to detect concentration of acetone in exhaled human breath and correlating it to blood glucose concentration.

A catalyst layer including: a catalyst-supported carbon including a catalyst including platinum supported on a carbon carrier; and an ionomer, in which the catalyst-supported carbon has a mesopore having a pore diameter of from 2 nm to less than 10 nm in a pore distribution obtained by a nitrogen adsorption method, at least a part of the ionomer exists in the mesopore having a pore diameter of from 2 nm to less than 10 nm, a content of the ionomer with respect to 100 parts by mass of the carbon carrier is 100 parts by mass or more, and an occupancy rate of the ionomer in a total volume of the mesopore having a pore diameter of from 2 nm to less than 10 nm is 50% by volume or less.

Provided herein is a method for producing methyl pentenone (MPO) in high yield in a continuous mode in a fixed bed reactor having a plurality of sidewall injecting ports by reacting excess methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with acetaldehyde in presence of a cation exchange resin catalyst, wherein the acetaldehyde is injected from the plurality of sidewall injecting ports of the reactor. The method is also effective in reducing the complete consumption of the catalyst during the course of the reaction.

Systems for the catalytic activation and/or dehydrogenation of a paraffin feed stream that is enriched in C5 alkanes to produce olefins that are then hydrated in the presence of water to produce C5 alcohols. Optionally, paraffin isomers are separated and the n-paraffins isomerized prior to catalytic activation and/or dehydrogenation.

A process for producing xylenes, in particular para-xylene that is less energy intensive than conventional processes is provided. In an embodiment the process comprises contacting a feed mixture in an isomerization zone with a catalyst at isomerization conditions and producing an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of p-xylene than in the feed mixture, wherein the catalyst comprises an acidic sulfonated catalytic membrane. Xylene isomerization can also be coupled with a p-xylene extraction process, where the raffinate (p-xylene deprived stream) from the extraction process is fed to an isomerization reactor to produce p-xylene. In an embodiment, the process can comprise: a) providing a feed stream comprising a mixture of xylene isomers including p-xylene; b) extracting p-xylene from the feed stream using a separator to separate the feed stream into a p-xylene rich stream and a p-xylene deprived stream; and c) delivering the p-xylene deprived stream to an isomerization unit, the isomerization unit including an acidic sulfonated catalytic membrane, and using the isomerization unit to produce an isomerized product comprising a higher proportion of p-xylene than in the p-xylene deprived stream delivered to the isomerization unit. In any one or more aspects, the isomerization unit can be operated at a temperature in the range of less than 350°, for example about 20° C. to about 200° C.