Disclosed is a composite catalyst, comprising carbon in a continuous phase and Raney alloy particles in a dispersed phase. The Raney alloy particles are dispersed evenly or unevenly in the carbon in a continuous phase, and the carbon in a continuous phase is obtained by carbonizing at least one carbonizable organic substance. The catalyst has good particle strength, high catalytic activity, and good selectivity.

The invention concerns a process for preparing a chlorine comprising catalyst by (a) providing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising titania and at least 5 weight percent cobalt; (b) impregnating the catalyst with a solution comprising chloride ions; and (c) heating the impregnated catalyst at a temperature in the range of between 100 and 500° C. for at least 5 minutes up to 2 days. The prepared catalyst preferably comprises 0.13-3 weight percent of the element chlorine. The invention further relates to the prepared catalyst and its use.

Metal oxide catalysts comprising various dopants are provided. The catalysts are useful as heterogenous catalysts in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons such as ethane and ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Disclosed are a catalyst for producing, from an alcohol, an olefin whose number of carbon atoms is at least one more than the number of carbon atoms of the alcohol, wherein at least the surface of the catalyst is substantially composed of zirconium oxide; a method for producing an olefin using the same; and so on.

A method and catalyst for forming higher carbon number products from carbon dioxide is provided. An exemplary catalyst includes red mud including iron and aluminum, and impregnated potassium.

This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yA.sub.vQ.sub.sMn.sub.wO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

A system and a method for isomerizing a 2-butene feed stream to form a 1-butene product stream are provided. An exemplary method includes calcining the red mud, flowing a butene feedstock over the red mud in an isomerization reactor, and separating 1-butene from a reactor effluent.

There is provided a method for producing an optionally substituted olefin, comprising the steps of: dehydrogenating an optionally substituted alcohol in a first reaction zone comprising a first catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle to form an optionally substituted carbonyl at a first set of reaction conditions; converting the optionally substituted alcohol and the optionally substituted carbonyl from the first reaction zone in a second reaction zone at a second set of reaction conditions that is different to the first set of reaction conditions and is selected to form the optionally substituted olefin, wherein the second reaction zone comprises a second catalyst supported on a porous silica-based particle. There is also provided a system for producing the optionally substituted olefin.

Olefins and diolefins, such as 1,3-butiadiene, may be produced by a method utilizing a series of bromination and dehydrobromination reactions. Bromine may be reacted with n-butane to form dibromobutane. The dibromobutanes may be dehydrobrominating to form 1,3-butadiene. The method may include reacting butene with bromine to form bromobutenes, and dehydrobrominating the bromobutenes to form 1,3-butadiene. The method may include reacting butene with hydrogen bromide in the presence of oxygen to form bromobutenes, and dehydrobrominating the bromobutenes to form 1,3-butadiene. The method may include reacting butene with bromine to form dibromobutanes, and dehydrobrominating the dibromobutanes to form 1,3-butadiene.

Methods of producing a light alkene. The method comprises contacting syngas and tungstated zirconia to produce a product stream comprising at least one light alkene. The product stream is recovered. Methods of converting syngas to a light alkene are also disclosed. The method comprises heating a precursor of tungstated zirconia to a temperature of between about 350° C. and about 550° C. to form tungstated zirconia. Syngas is flowed over the tungstated zirconia to produce a product stream comprising at least one light alkene and the product stream comprising the at least one light alkene is recovered.