Provided in this disclosure are catalyst compositions. The catalyst compositions include an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst that includes a mixed metal oxide having the empirical formula:
Mo.sub.1.0V.sub.0.12-0.49Te.sub.0.05-0.17Nb.sub.0.10-0.20Al.sub.cO.sub.d
wherein c is from 0 to 2.0 and d is a number to satisfy the valence of the oxide. The compositions are at least 40 wt. % amorphous as measured by XRD. The disclosure also provides methods of making the compositions.

In some embodiments provided herein are processes for controlling carbon dioxide output levels coming from an oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) process. Carbon dioxide output from an ODH process includes that produced in the ODH reaction and carry over when carbon dioxide is used as an inert diluent. Under certain circumstances carbon dioxide can also be consumed in the ODH process by acting as an oxidizing agent. By varying the amount of steam introduced into the ODH process an operator may alter the degree to which carbon dioxide acts as an oxidizing agent. This in turn allows a level of control in the degree to which carbon dioxide is consumed in the process, effecting overall carbon dioxide output. Minimizing the carbon dioxide output provides an opportunity to limit or eliminate the requirement for release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The invention concerns a process for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. In the process an ethane comprising stream is fed to a distillation column to remove propane. The purified ethane stream is subjected to oxidative dehydrogenation using a catalyst comprising Mo/V/Sb, or Mo/V/Nb and Te or Sb in the orthorhombic M1 crystalline phase. The reactor effluent comprises ethylene. The effluent is washed with water to remove acetic acid. The acetic acid is recovered from the aqueous stream by means of solvent extraction.

The invention concerns catalyst or a catalyst carrier comprising 35 to 99.9 wt % of metal oxide and 0.1 to 50 wt % of silanized silica particles, calculated on the total weight of the catalyst or catalyst carrier. The invention further relates to a process to prepare the catalyst or catalyst carrier. The invention also relates to the use of the catalyst, or a catalyst comprising the catalyst carrier, in a catalytic reaction.

Processes and associated reaction systems for the oxidative dehydrogenation of an alkane containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably ethane or propane, more preferably ethane, are provided. In particular, a process is provided that comprises supplying a feed gas comprising the alkane and oxygen to a reactor vessel that comprises an upstream and downstream catalyst bed; contacting the feed gas with an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst in the upstream catalyst bed, followed by contact with an oxidative dehydrogenation/oxygen removal catalyst in the downstream catalyst bed, to yield a reactor effluent comprising the alkene; and supplying an upstream coolant to an upstream shell space of the reactor vessel from an upstream coolant circuit and a downstream coolant to a downstream shell space of the reactor vessel from a downstream coolant circuit.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts for converting lower paraffins to alkenes such as ethane to ethylene when prepared as an agglomeration, for example extruded with supports comprising slurries of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts for converting lower paraffins to alkenes such as ethane to ethylene when prepared as an agglomeration, for example extruded with supports chosen from slurries of TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2 Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlO(OH) and mixtures thereof have a lower temperature at which 25% conversion is obtained.

Incorporating into a fixed bed reactor for an exothermal reaction having a catalyst supported on a support having a thermal conductivity typically less than 30 W/mk within the reaction temperature control limits heat dissipative particles having a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mk less than 30 W/mk within the reaction temperature control limits helps control the temperature of the reactor bed.

A method for producing a target compound includes distributing a feed mixture containing ethane to multiple reaction tubes of a shell-and-tube reactor arranged in parallel, and subjecting to an oxidative catalytic conversion of the ethane in the reaction tubes. The catalytic reaction is carried out by means of catalysis zones with different activity arranged in series in the reaction tubes. One or more catalytically active materials and one or more catalytically inactive materials are provided in each of the catalysis zones. The different activity of the catalysis zones is effected by providing the one or more catalytically active materials having identical or essentially identical basic formulation, wherein the one or more catalytically active materials is or are prepared using different calcination intensities.

The invention relates to a process of the oxidative dehydrogenation of a C2-6 alkane, comprising subjecting a stream comprising methane and the C2-6 alkane, in which stream the volume ratio of methane to the C2-6 alkane is of from 0.005:1 to 100:1, to oxydehydrogenation conditions resulting in a stream comprising methane, a C2-6 alkene and optionally a C2-6 carboxylic acid.