Paraffin compositions including mainly even carbon number paraffins, and a method for manufacturing the same, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method involves contacting naturally occurring fatty acid/glycerides with hydrogen in a slurry bubble column reactor containing bimetallic catalysts with equivalent particle diameters from about 10 to about 400 micron. The even carbon number compositions are particularly useful as phase change material.

Catalysts and catalytic methods are provided. The catalysts and methods are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane.

A MXene support for a noble metal that forms a catalyst having active sites comprising single metal-layer nanostructures. The catalyst is stable under conditions for methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons and provides reduced coke formation. The results show a supported metal catalyst using the MXene where Pt atoms form one or more layers of atoms on the surface of the Mo.sub.2TiC.sub.2T.sub.x support after it is reduced at 750° C. The catalyst shows high selectivity for C.sub.2-hydrocarbons with reduced coke formation, which can cost effectively convert methane into other valuable products.

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.

Paraffin compositions including mainly even carbon number paraffins, and a method for manufacturing the same, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method involves contacting naturally occurring fatty acid/glycerides with hydrogen in a slurry bubble column reactor containing bimetallic catalysts with equivalent particle diameters from about 10 to about 400 micron. The even carbon number compositions are particularly useful as phase change material.

Methods of preparing unsaturated compounds or analogs through dehydrogenation of corresponding saturated compounds and/or hydrogenation of aromatic compounds are disclosed.

A process for isomerizing an aromatic cut containing at least one aromatic compound containing eight carbon atoms per molecule is described, comprising bringing said cut into contact with at least one catalyst comprising at least one metal from group VIII of the periodic classification of the elements, at least one zeolitic support comprising a zeolite selected from zeolites with structure type EUO and MOR, used alone or as a mixture, and at least one matrix, such that the specific surface area of the matrix in the zeolitic support of said catalyst is in the range 5 to 200 m.sup.2/g.

A oxygen transfer agent useful for the oxidative dehydrogenation of saturated hydrocarbons includes at least one mixed oxide derived from manganese or compounds thereof, as well as a promoter, such as tungsten and/or phosphorus. The oxygen transfer agent may also include an alkali metal or compounds thereof, boron or compounds thereof, an oxide of an alkaline earth metal, and an oxide containing one or more of one or more of manganese, lithium, boron, and magnesium. A reactor is at least partially filled with the oxygen transfer agent in the form of a fixed or circulating bed and provides an unsaturated hydrocarbon product, such as ethylene and/or propylene. The oxygen transfer agent may be regenerated using oxygen.

Improved methods of oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of short chain alkanes or ethylbenzene to the corresponding olefins, and improved methods of oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to ethylene and/or ethane, are disclosed. The disclosed methods use boron- or nitride-containing catalysts, and result in improved selectivity and/or byproduct profiles than methods using conventional ODH or OCM catalysts.

A heterogeneous catalyst suitable for use in alkane dehydrogenation has an active layer that includes alumina and gallia. The active layer is dispersed on a support such as alumina or silica-modified alumina.