A process for producing ammonia includes the step of contacting nitrogen and water with a catalyst containing permanently polarized hydroxyapatite.

Disclosed herein is a mixed phosphate catalyst for converting lactic acid to acrylic acid, which is characterized by a high conversion of lactic acid, a high selectivity for acrylic acid, a high yield of acrylic acid, and correspondingly low selectivity and molar yields for undesired by-products. This is achieved with a particular class of catalysts defined by a mixture of metal-containing phosphate salts. Further, the catalyst is believed to be stable and active for lengthy periods heretofore unseen in the art for such dehydration processes.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

The invention relates to a method for cleaving urethanes, in particular polyurethanes, by means of chemolysis (alcoholysis, hydrolysis, or hydroalcoholysis) in the presence of a catalyst. The chemolysis is characterized in that a salt of an oxyacid of an element of the fifth, fourteenth, or fifteenth group of the periodic table of elements or a mixture of two or more such salts is used as the catalyst, the pKb value of the anion of said salt of the oxyacid ranging from 0.10 to 6.00, preferably 0.25 to 5.00, particularly 0.50 to 4.50, wherein the catalyst does not comprise carbonate when the chemolysis is carried out as an alcoholysis (Ia), and the catalyst does not contain carbonate, orthophosphate, or metaphosphate when the chemolysis is carried out as a hydroalcoholysis.

Provided is a catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation characterized in that rhodium and molybdenum are supported on hydroxyapatite, the catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation providing a catalyst that can promote a reduction reaction that converts an amide compound into an amine compound, can be used under moderate conditions, and has durability that allows repeated use thereof while retaining high activity. Also provided is a method for producing an amine compound, the method being characterized by including bringing an amide compound into contact with the catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation to cause hydrogenation, thereby producing an amine compound.

A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact a feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO.sub.2 to produce a stream enriched in CO.sub.2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO.sub.2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

Hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof are dehydrated using a catalyst and a method to produce bio-acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. A method to produce the dehydration catalyst is also provided.

Processes for the purification of bio-based acrylic acid to crude and glacial acrylic acid are provided. The bio-based acrylic acid is produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof. The purification includes some or all of the following processes: extraction, drying, distillation, and melt crystallization. The produced glacial or crude acrylic acid contains hydroxypropionic, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof as an impurity.

A method of preparing 4-methyl-3-decen-5-one. The method includes the step of oxidizing 4-methyl-3-decen-5-ol in the presence of (i) oxygen and (ii) a metal catalyst, wherein the metal catalyst contains a catalytic metal deposited on nanoparticle support.