A catalyst comprising palladium, bismuth, and at least one third element X selected from the group consisting of P, S, Sc, V, Ga, Se, Y, Nb, Mo, La, Ce, and Nd, wherein the catalyst further comprises a support.

A process for producing an ether including treating (a) an ester with (b) hydrogen in the presence of (c) a heterogeneous catalyst to reduce the ester by hydrogenation to form an ether product.

The invention relates to a catalyst composition suitable for the dehydrogenation of paraffins having 2-8 carbon atoms comprising zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, optionally further comprising oxides of cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), samarium (Sm), terbium (Tb), ytterbium (Yb), yttrium (Y), tungsten (W) and Zirconium (Zr) or mixtures thereof, wherein said catalyst composition is substantially free of chromium and platinum. The catalysts possess unique combinations of activity, selectivity, and stability. Methods for preparing improved dehydrogenation catalysts and a process for dehydrogenating paraffins having 2-8 carbon atoms, comprising contacting the mixed metal oxide catalyst with paraffins are also described. The catalyst may also be disposed on a porous support in an attrition-resistant form and used in a fluidized bed reactor.

A supported metal catalyst in which an electric conductivity is enhanced. The supported metal catalyst includes a support powder; and metal fine particles supported by the support powder. The support powder is an aggregate of support fine particles; the support fine particles are provided with a chained portion structured by a plurality of crystallites being fusion-bonded to form a chain; the support fine particles are structured with a metal oxide; and the supported amount of metal fine particles per unit area of the surface area of the support powder calculated based on sphere approximation is 3.4 to 13.7 (mg/m.sup.2).

This invention relates to the synthesis of new catalysts based on earth crust abundant mixed oxides that can produce cleavage of fatty acids (FA), FA methyl esters, or even lipids in a single step using oxygen as oxidant in solventless conditions.

Provided in this disclosure is a process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower alkane into a corresponding alkene. The process includes providing a gas stream comprising the lower alkane to a reactor; contacting, in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor, the lower alkane with a catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide; and providing to the last 50% of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor a stream comprising from 0.01 vol. % to 10 vol. % of a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohol.

A process for selective removal of hydroxyl groups from phenolic compounds is disclosed. The process uses a combination of catalytic hydrodeoxygenation and catalytic direct deoxygenation to convert alkylphenols into alkylbenzenes.

A method produces ε-caprolactam through adipamide as an intermediate, and characteristically includes a lactamization step of reacting adipamide, formed from a material compound, with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst containing: a metal oxide mainly containing an oxide(s) of one or more metallic elements selected from the group consisting of metallic elements of group 5 and groups 7 to 14 in the 4th to 6th periods of the periodic table; and a metal and/or a metal compound having a hydrogenation ability.

Methods of producing a catalyst for oxidation of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons and methods of using the catalyst are disclosed. Molybdenum, vanadium, and niobium metal or metal containing compounds are used to form a slurry in water. After agitating the slurry for at least 15 minutes, palladium or a palladium containing compound is added to the slurry. After further agitation, a precipitate is collected, dried and calcined to obtain an active catalyst, with palladium primarily distributed on a surface of the catalyst. The active catalyst is capable of catalyzing the conversion of C.sub.2 hydrocarbons into acetic acid.

Provided in this disclosure is a process for the oxidative dehydrogenation of a lower alkane into a corresponding alkene. The process includes providing a gas stream comprising the lower alkane to a reactor; contacting, in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor, the lower alkane with a catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide; and providing to the last 50% of the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor a stream comprising from 0.01 vol. % to 10 vol. % of a C.sub.1-C.sub.3 alcohol.