The present invention provides methods, reactor systems, and catalysts for increasing the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons produced while converting alkanols to hydrocarbons. The invention includes methods of using catalysts to increase the yield of benzene, toluene, and mixed xylenes in the hydrocarbon product.

A feedstream comprising hydrogen and a gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or a combination thereof is converted to a product mixture containing a combination of saturated and unsaturated two carbon atom and three carbon atom hydrocarbons via contact with a mixed catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide catalyst selected from a copper oxide, copper oxide/zinc oxide, copper oxide/alumina, copper oxide/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst, a zinc oxide/chromium oxide catalyst, or a combination thereof, in admixture with a molecular sieve catalyst having a CHA, AEI, AEL, AFI, BEA, or DDR framework type, or a combination of such molecular sieves. Exemplary molecular sieve catalysts include SAPO-34, SAPO-18, SAPO-5, and Beta. Advantages include reduced production of C1 hydrocarbons, C4 and higher hydrocarbons, or both; long catalyst lifetimes; desirable conversions; and desirable proportions of C2 and C3 paraffins.

A new crystalline zinc (silico)aluminophosphate molecular sieve designated SSZ-90 is disclosed. SSZ-90 is isostructural with the DFO framework type and is synthesized using an ionic liquid as both the solvent and the structure directing agent. The ionic liquid [Q.sup.+A.sup.] comprises a cation (Q.sup.+) selected from the group consisting of 1,3-diisopropylimidazolium, 1,3-diisobutylimidazolium, and 1-isopropyl-3-isobutylimidazolium and an anion (A.sup.) which is not detrimental to the formation of the molecular sieve.

A new crystalline zinc (silico)aluminophosphate molecular sieve designated SSZ-90 is disclosed. SSZ-90 is isostructural with the DFO framework type and is synthesized using an ionic liquid as both the solvent and the structure directing agent. The ionic liquid [Q.sup.+A.sup.] comprises a cation (Q.sup.+) selected from the group consisting of 1,3-diisopropylimidazolium, 1,3-diisobutylimidazolium, and 1-isopropyl-3-isobutylimidazolium and an anion (A.sup.) which is not detrimental to the formation of the molecular sieve.

A process for preparing acrylic acid, comprising (i) providing a stream S4 comprising a formaldehyde source and acetic acid; (ii) contacting stream S4 with an aldol condensation catalyst comprising a zeolitic material comprising aluminum in the framework structure to obtain a stream S6 comprising acrylic acid, the framework structure of the zeolitic material in (ii) comprising YO.sub.2 and Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and Y being a tetravalent element; where the total content of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal in the zeolitic material in (ii), calculated as alkali metal oxide and alkaline earth metal oxide, is from 0% to 0.1% by weight, based in each case on the total weight of the zeolitic material, and where the aldol condensation catalyst in (ii) comprises, outside the framework structure of the zeolitic material present therein, from 0% to 1% by weight of vanadium, based on vanadium as vanadium(V) oxide.