The present invention relates to a Cu-based catalyst, a preparation process thereof and its use as the dehydrogenation catalyst in producing a hydroxyketone compound such as acetoin. Said Cu-based catalyst contains copper, at least one auxiliary metal selected from metal of Group IIA, non-noble metal of Group VIII, metal of Group VIB, metal of Group VIIB, metal of Group IIB and lanthanide metal of periodic table of elements, and an alkali metal, and further contains at least one ketone additive selected from a ketone represented by formula (II) and a ketone represented by formula (II′). Said Cu-based catalyst shows a high the acetoin selectivity as the dehydrogenation catalyst for producing acetoin.
R1-C(═O)—CH(OH)—R2  (II)
R1-C(═O)—CH(═O)—R2  (II′) In formulae (II) and (II′), each group is defined as in the description.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an oxide catalyst containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, the method including a raw material preparation step of obtaining an aqueous mixed liquid containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, an aging step of subjecting the aqueous mixed liquid to aging at more than 30° C., a drying step of drying the aqueous mixed liquid, thereby obtaining a dried powder, and a calcination step of calcining the dried powder, thereby obtaining the oxide catalyst, and a method for producing an unsaturated nitrile or an unsaturated acid by using the catalyst.

A multilayer supported oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalyst composition (alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support, first single oxide layer, one or more mixed oxide layers, optional second single oxide layer) characterized by formula A.sub.aZ.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x/alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3; A is alkaline earth metal; Z is first rare earth element; E is second rare earth element; D is redox agent/third rare earth element; the first, second, third rare earth element are not the same; a=1.0; b=0.1-10.0; c=0.1-10.0; d=0-10.0; x balances oxidation states; first single oxide layer (Z.sub.b1O.sub.x1, b1=0.1-10.0; x1 balances oxidation states) contacts alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support and one or more mixed oxide layers; one or more mixed oxide layers (A.sub.a2Z.sub.b2E.sub.c2D.sub.d2O.sub.x2, a2=1.0; b2=0.1-10.0; c2=0.1-10.0; d2=0-10.0; x2 balances oxidation states; A.sub.aZ.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x and A.sub.a2Z.sub.b2E.sub.c2D.sub.d2O.sub.x2 are different) contacts first single oxide layer and optionally second single oxide layer, and second single oxide layer (AO), when present, contacts one or more mixed oxide layers and optionally first single oxide layer.

A multilayer supported oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalyst composition (alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support, first single oxide layer, one or more mixed oxide layers, optional second single oxide layer) characterized by formula A.sub.aZ.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x/alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3; A is alkaline earth metal; Z is first rare earth element; E is second rare earth element; D is redox agent/third rare earth element; the first, second, third rare earth element are not the same; a=1.0; b=0.1-10.0; c=0.1-10.0; d=0-10.0; x balances oxidation states; first single oxide layer (Z.sub.b1O.sub.x1, b1=0.1-10.0; x1 balances oxidation states) contacts alpha-Al.sub.2O.sub.3 support and one or more mixed oxide layers; one or more mixed oxide layers (A.sub.a2Z.sub.b2E.sub.c2D.sub.d2O.sub.x2, a2=1.0; b2=0.1-10.0; c2=0.1-10.0; d2=0-10.0; x2 balances oxidation states; A.sub.aZ.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x and A.sub.a2Z.sub.b2E.sub.c2D.sub.d2O.sub.x2 are different) contacts first single oxide layer and optionally second single oxide layer, and second single oxide layer (AO), when present, contacts one or more mixed oxide layers and optionally first single oxide layer.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an oxide catalyst containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, the method including a raw material preparation step of obtaining an aqueous mixed liquid containing Mo, V, Sb, and Nb, an aging step of subjecting the aqueous mixed liquid to aging at more than 30° C., a drying step of drying the aqueous mixed liquid, thereby obtaining a dried powder, and a calcination step of calcining the dried powder, thereby obtaining the oxide catalyst, and a method for producing an unsaturated nitrile or an unsaturated acid by using the catalyst.

An OCM catalyst composition characterized by general formula A.sub.aLa.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x; wherein A is an alkaline earth metal; wherein E is a first rare earth element; wherein D is a redox agent or a second rare earth element; wherein the first rare earth element and second rare earth element are different; wherein a is 1.0; wherein b is 0.01-10.0; wherein c is 0-10.0; wherein d is 0-10.0; and wherein x balances the oxidation states. The alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and combinations thereof. The first rare earth element and the second rare earth element can each independently be selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Y, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations thereof. The redox agent is selected from the group consisting of Mn, W, Bi, Sb, Sn, Ce, Pr, and combinations thereof.

An OCM catalyst composition characterized by general formula A.sub.aLa.sub.bE.sub.cD.sub.dO.sub.x; wherein A is an alkaline earth metal; wherein E is a first rare earth element; wherein D is a redox agent or a second rare earth element; wherein the first rare earth element and second rare earth element are different; wherein a is 1.0; wherein b is 0.01-10.0; wherein c is 0-10.0; wherein d is 0-10.0; and wherein x balances the oxidation states. The alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and combinations thereof. The first rare earth element and the second rare earth element can each independently be selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Y, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations thereof. The redox agent is selected from the group consisting of Mn, W, Bi, Sb, Sn, Ce, Pr, and combinations thereof.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support, at least one noble metal M, tin, phosphorus and ytterbium, the content of phosphorus element being greater than or equal to 0.2% by weight and less than 0.4% by weight, and the content of ytterbium being less than or equal to 1% by weight relative to the mass of the catalyst. The invention also relates to the process for preparing the catalyst and to the use thereof in reforming.