Provided is a technology for efficiently manufacturing 1,3-butadiene from 1,4-butanediol or 3-buten-1-ol in a reaction condition with a high conversion rate. A catalyst for manufacturing 1,3-butadiene, contains: ytterbium oxide as an active component for generating 1,3-butadiene from 1,4-butanediol or 3-buten-1-ol. In addition, a manufacturing method of 1,3-butadiene, includes: a step of obtaining a fluid containing 1,3-butadiene by bringing at least one of 1,4-butanediol and 3-buten-1-ol into contact with the catalyst for manufacturing 1,3-butadiene.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing olefins via an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) process. The systems and methods may comprise the use of a staged process comprising at least one non-adiabatic section that is in thermal communication with a heat transfer medium and at least one substantially adiabatic section. The systems and methods may also comprise the use of a diluent stream which may improve methane conversion in an OCM reactor and an ethylene/ethane ratio in a post-bed cracking unit. The methods and systems may further comprise injecting oxygen (O.sub.2) and a paraffin into a gas stream containing a radical transfer agent to provide a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture may be held in a vessel for a time period greater than an auto-ignition delay time (AIDT), such that the reaction mixture may ignite to liberate heat and convert to a product mixture comprising olefins.

Supported oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalysts, methods of making the catalysts, and uses thereof are described. A supported OCM) catalyst can include a nonporous inert support having a high thermal conductivity and an OCM mixed metal oxide material in contact with surface of the nonporous inert support.

A catalyst comprising Y.sub.2O.sub.3 nanorods and gold nanoparticles dispersed on a surface of the nanorods is provided. The gold is present at a concentration of 0.5-2 wt %. A method of forming olefins by oxidative cracking is also provided. The method includes reacting an alkane with a reactant gas mixture in the presence of a catalyst under conditions suitable for forming light olefins (ethtylene and propylene).

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

The present disclosure relates to dehydrogenation catalysts based on one or more certain group 13 and group 14 elements that further include additional metal components, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons using such catalysts. One aspect of the disclosure provides a calcined dehydrogenation catalyst that includes a primary species P1 selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Sn and Pb and combinations thereof; a primary species P2 selected from the lanthanides; a promoter M1 selected from the group consisting of Ni, Pd and Pt; a promoter M2 selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba, on a silica-alumina support.

A method for producing a methane-rich gas from a heavy hydrocarbon feed, the method comprising the steps of introducing the heavy hydrocarbon stream to a catalytic reactor, the catalytic reactor comprising an activated catalyst, the activated catalyst comprising 20 wt % of nickel, 70 wt % of a cerium oxide component, and 10 wt % of a gadolinium oxide component; applying the heavy hydrocarbon stream to the activated catalyst; and producing the methane-rich gas over the activated catalyst, wherein the methane-rich gas is selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and combinations of the same.

This invention describes methods of alkylating isobutane which include a catalytic reaction system comprising a crystalline zeolite catalyst and a rare earth-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (RE-MSA). The crystalline zeolite catalyst comprises sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals; and up to 5 wt % of Pt, Pd and or Ni, and acid-site density (including both Lewis and Brnsted acid sites) of at least 100 mole/gm. The RE-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (Re-MSA) comprising sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 1 wt % of alkali metals, RE (rare earth elements) in the range of 10 to 30 wt % and transition metals selected from groups 9-11 in the range from 2 wt % to 10 wt; and acid-site density of no more than 30 mole/gm. The invention also includes methods of making RE-MSA.

Disclosed herein are systems and processes for the conversion of a methane feedstock to C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons.

The present invention provides a catalyst composition for the production of olefins from lighter alkanes by oxidative dehydrogenation route and methods of making the dehydrogenation catalyst composites.