The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting ethylbenzene to styrene, comprising: flowing a feed composition comprising ethylbenzene in at least one process microchannel in contact with at least one catalyst to dehydrogenate the ethylbenzene and form a product comprising styrene; exchanging heat between the process microchannel and at least one heat exchange channel in thermal contact with the process microchannel; and removing product from the process microchannel. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a process microchannel, a heat exchange channel, and a heat transfer wall positioned between the process microchannel and heat exchange channel wherein the heat transfer wall comprises a thermal resistance layer.

A method for producing ethyl lactate includes subjecting lactic acid and ethanol to an esterification reaction in the presence of an antimony catalyst, so as to obtain ethyl lactate. The antimony catalyst is selected from the group consisting of antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, antimony trichloride, and combinations thereof, and the esterification reaction is carried out at a temperature ranging from 80 C. to 88 C. and under a pressure of 1 atm.

A process for oxidative dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon to produce an olefin and water may include contacting, in a fluidized bed, the hydrocarbon with a particulate material, which may include at least one oxygen transfer agent (OTA) and at least one fluidization enhancing additive. During at least a portion of contacting the hydrocarbon with the particulate material, the fluidized bed may be at a temperature at or above a melting point of one or more materials of the oxygen transfer agent. Further, during at least a portion of contacting the hydrocarbon with the particulate material, a surface of at least a portion of the OTA may comprise a molten layer. The fluidization enhancing additive may not undergo reduction in the fluidized bed during contacting the hydrocarbon with the particulate material and may be present in an amount that maintains sufficient fluidization of the particulate material.