Methods of performing a startup of an oxidative coupling of methane reaction to produce C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons are described. The methods can include incrementally varying startup parameters of the oxidative methane reactor and using the feed gas as a coolant such that high C.sub.2+ hydrocarbon selectivity is achieved.

A process for producing phenylstyrene comprises contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylbenzene is then contacted with ethylbenzene in the presence of a transalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a transalkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene and/or with ethylene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce an alkylation product comprising cyclohexylethylbenzene. At least part of the cyclohexylethylbenzene is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation product comprising phenylstyrene.

A supported oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalyst comprising a support and an OCM catalytic composition characterized by the general formula A.sub.aZ.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x; wherein A is an alkaline earth metal; wherein Z is a first rare earth element; wherein E is a second rare earth element; wherein D is a redox agent or a third rare earth element; wherein the first rare earth element, the second rare earth element, and the third rare earth element, when present, are not the same; wherein a is 1.0; wherein b is from about 0.1 to about 10.0; wherein c is from about 0.1 to about 10.0; wherein d is from about 0 to about 10.0; and wherein x balances the oxidation states.

Heterogeneous catalysts with optional dopants are provided. The catalysts are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

A long-life catalyst which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and has high activity and suppressed leakage of metal. A catalyst according to some embodiments includes: a substrate; and a first metal atom as a catalytic center. The substrate contains a non-metallic atom and a second metal atom, and the non-metallic atom is any one selected from the group consisting of a group 15 element, a group 16 element and a group 17 element.

A process for producing C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons comprising introducing a reactant mixture to an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor comprising an OCM catalyst composition; wherein the reactant mixture comprises CH.sub.4, O.sub.2, and a chlorine intermediate precursor; wherein the chlorine intermediate precursor is present in the reactant mixture from about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm, based on the total volume of the reactant mixture; allowing the reactant mixture to contact the OCM catalyst composition and react via an OCM reaction to form a product mixture comprising unreacted methane and C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons; wherein the process for producing C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons is characterized by improved performance in the presence of the chlorine intermediate precursor; recovering at least a portion of the product mixture from the OCM reactor; and recovering the C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons from the product mixture. The OCM reactor is operated under autothermal or isothermal conditions.

A catalyst composition, suitable for producing ethylene and other C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons from methane. The composition includes a blended product of two distinct catalyst components, blended at such synergistic proportions, that results in a catalyst having high C.sub.2+ hydrocarbon selectivity while maintaining an overall sufficient catalyst activity and low ethyne selectivity. Methods for preparing such a catalyst composition and a process for producing C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons using such a catalyst composition are provided.

This disclosure relates to catalysts comprising gallium, cerium, and a mixed oxide support useful in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons with such catalysts. For example, in one embodiment, a catalyst composition includes gallium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, cerium oxide, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, a promoter, M1, selected from Pt, Ir, La, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.005 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, a promoter, M2, selected from the group 1 elements (e.g., Li, Na, K, Cs), present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.05 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, and a support, S1, selected from alumina, silica, zirconia, titania, or a mixture thereof, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 60 wt. % to about 99 wt. %.

A process of methane catalytic conversion produces olefins, aromatics, and hydrogen under oxygen-free, continuous flowing conditions. Such a process has little coke deposition and realizes atom-economic conversion. Under the conditions encountered in a fixed bed reactor (i.e. reaction temperature: 750-1200 C.; reaction pressure: atmospheric pressure; the weight hourly space velocity of feed gas: 1000-30000 ml/g/h; and fixed bed), conversion of methane is 8-50%. The selectivity of olefins is 30-90%. And selectivity of aromatics is 10-70%. The catalyst for this methane conversion has a SiO.sub.2-based matrix having active species that are formed by confining dopant metal atoms in the lattice of the matrix.

The present disclosure provides processes to convert paraffins to corresponding olefins and or heavier hydrocarbons. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing, at a temperature of from about 50 C. to about 500 C., a hydrocarbon feed comprising paraffins to a first metal oxide comprising one or more group 1 to group 17 metal and one or more oxygen. The process includes obtaining a product mixture comprising one or more C3-C50 cyclic olefins, one or more C2-050 acyclic olefins, one or more C5-C200 hydrocarbons, such as one or more C5-C100 hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof. In at least one embodiment, the product mixture is substantially free of H2 (e.g., <500 ppm). The introducing can reduce the first metal oxide to form a second metal oxide. Processes may include introducing the second metal oxide to an oxidizing agent to form the first metal oxide.