A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

In the present method a reaction mixture is comprised of a source of adamantane, mixed with an alkane or cycloalkane. A Lewis acid catalyst is added to the reaction mixture which is heated and then purified. The resulting alkyl diamondoid mixtures have significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature.

In the present method a reaction mixture is comprised of a source of adamantane, mixed with an alkane or cycloalkane. A Lewis acid catalyst is added to the reaction mixture which is heated and then purified. The resulting alkyl diamondoid mixtures have significantly higher densities and volumetric net heats of combustion while maintaining low viscosities which allow for use at low temperature.

A process for producing isooctane by introducing a butane feed stream (containing n-butane, i-butane) and hydrogen into a catalytic hydrogenolysis reactor to produce a hydrogenolysis product stream; separating the hydrogenolysis product stream into a butane stream (i-butane, optionally n-butane); feeding the butane stream to a catalytic dehydrogenation reactor to produce a dehydrogenation product stream comprising saturated and unsaturated four-carbon hydrocarbons; and feeding the dehydrogenation product stream to an oligomerization unit to produce isooctene and dehydrogenating the isooctene to produce isooctane.