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.

Catalysts for dehydrating hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof to acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof with high yield and selectivity, short residence time, and without significant conversion to undesired side products, such as, for example, acetaldehyde, propionic acid, and acetic acid, are provided. The catalysts are mixed condensed phosphates. Methods of preparing the catalysts 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.

Various embodiments of a process for converting light alkanes to diesel are disclosed. In general, the process includes reacting a feed rich in one or more light alkanes with an aromatization catalyst to convert the light alkanes to aromatic hydrocarbons, reacting the aromatic hydrocarbons with a hydroalkylation catalyst to convert the aromatic hydrocarbons into diesel range hydrocarbons, and hydrogenating the diesel range hydrocarbons to produce a diesel product.

The present invention relates to heterogeneous acid catalysts comprising or consisting of mixed metal salts, of lithium and aluminum phosphates and sulfates, and combinations with metallic cations, such as magnesium, titanium, zinc, zirconium and gallium, to provide adequate Lewis acidity; organic or inorganic porosity promoters, such as polysaccharides; and agglomerates, such as clays, kaolin and metal oxides of the type M.sub.xO.sub.y, where; M=Al, Mg, Sr, Zr or Ti, and other metals of groups IA, IIA and IVB, x=1 or 2 and y=2 or 3, for the formation of particles. A process is disclosed for obtaining from the catalyst by the hydrolysis of aluminum lithium hydride with water and oxygenated solvent, such as an ether. The catalysts are used in batch reactor and continuous flow systems in reactions that require moderate Lewis acidity, such as refining, petrochemical and general chemistry, including the transesterification of glycerides to produce alkyl esters.

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.

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.

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.