A process for preparing C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons includes introducing a feed stream into a reaction zone of a reactor, the feed stream comprising hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide. An additional stream is introduced into the reaction zone of the reactor, the additional stream comprising carbon dioxide. A combined stream that includes the feed stream and the additional stream is converted into a product stream comprising C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons in the reaction zone in the presence of a hybrid catalyst. The hybrid catalyst includes a mixed metal oxide catalyst component, and a microporous catalyst component. The process operates at a gas hourly space velocity in excess of 2500 hr.sup.-1 and effectively yields a net carbon dioxide selectivity of less than 5.0% and a productivity of C.sub.2-C.sub.4 hydrocarbons greater than 75 g hydrocarbons per kilogram of catalyst per hour.

The present development is a process to produce commodity chemicals such as methanol and syngas using an integrated plasma catalysis technology. The method comprises providing a fixed or fluidized bed reactor having a microwave plasma flame and a catalyst bed with a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is an alloyed bimetallic nanowire. In the process, the plasma flame fluidizes the catalyst thereby producing a more effective catalyst than the non-fluidized catalyst. It is anticipated that the reactor can have a throughput capacity of up to 30 Lpm/kW and can be effective for the conversion of CO.sub.2, CH.sub.4, air, water, and combinations thereof, through reactions such as pure CO.sub.2 splitting, reverse water gas shift (RWGS) for CO production, methanol synthesis, and plasma reforming of methane, thereby making a system that would be attractive for small GTL units.

The present invention relates to a process for producing ethene by the vapour phase dehydration of ethanol using a supported heteropolyacid catalyst. In particular, the present invention involves the use of a supported heteropolyacid catalyst, wherein the supported heteropolyacid catalyst is: i) a mixed oxide support comprising silica and a transition metal oxide, wherein silica is present in an amount of at least 50 wt. %, based on the weight of the mixed oxide support; or ii) a mixed oxide support comprising zirconia and a different transition metal oxide, wherein zirconia is present in an amount of at least 50 wt. %, based on the weight of the mixed oxide support. When used in a process for the preparation of ethene by vapour phase dehydration, and after attaining steady-state performance of the catalyst, the process may be operated continuously with the same supported heteropolyacid catalyst for at least 150 hours without any regeneration of the catalyst.

The invention is concerned with the production of 1-hexene and octenes from ethene. 1-Butene is optionally also to be produced. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of developing a process for producing 1-hexene from ethene by MTHxE etherification to achieve better chemical utilization of the employed carbon atoms. This problem is solved by catalytic retrocleavage of MTHxE into the C.sub.6 olefins and the alcohol, reuse of the alcohol in the etherification and reaction of the obtained C.sub.6 olefins with ethene to afford C.sub.8 olefins. In this way the alcohol is not lost from the process but rather is internally recirculated as a derivatizing agent. The less attractive C.sub.6 olefins from the cleavage product are upgraded to octene with further ethene in order to provide a further commercial product.

A process for increase conversion and yield and selectivity to normal paraffins by reducing the hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio for paraffin feeds with substantial butanes. The process works best with a low concentration of heavies and cyclics in the isomerization feed. High normal ratios of equilibrium, isobutane conversion, normal paraffins yield and selectivities are achieved for naphtha feed at low ratios of hydrogen to hydrocarbons.

A process for preparing C2 to C3 hydrocarbons may include introducing a feed stream including hydrogen gas and a carbon-containing gas comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof into a reaction zone of a reactor, and converting the feed stream into a product stream comprising C2 to C3 hydrocarbons in the reaction zone in the presence of a hybrid catalyst. The hybrid catalyst may include a metal oxide catalyst component and a microporous catalyst component comprising 8-MR pore openings less than or equal to 5.1 A and a cage defining ring size less than or equal to 7.45 A, where a C2/C3 carbon molar ratio of the product stream is greater than or equal to 0.7.

Systems and processes herein improve the conversion of propylene to ethylene via metathesis. On a mass basis, embodiments herein may be used to convert greater than 40% propylene, on a mass basis, to ethylene, such as 43% to 75%, on a mass basis. In one aspect, processes for the conversion of propylene to ethylene herein may include introducing a propylene feed stream to a metathesis reactor, and contacting the propylene with a metathesis catalyst in the metathesis reactor to convert the propylene to ethylene and 2-butene. An effluent from the metathesis reactor may be recovered, the effluent including ethylene, 2-butene, and unconverted propylene. The effluent may then be separated in a fractionation system to recover an ethylene fraction, a propylene fraction, a c4 fraction, and a C5+ fraction. The propylene fraction and the C4 fraction may then be fed to the metathesis reactor to produce additional ethylene.

The present invention relates to a material comprising (i) an inner part comprising or consisting of bulk silicon, (ii) an outer part comprising or consisting of a silicon-based compound, said silicon-based compound comprising of silicon and a non-metal element, and (iii) clusters comprising or consisting of a transition metal. The present invention relates to preparation and applications of said material.

The present invention features a direct synthesis of light olefins through the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. In.sub.2O.sub.3 supported on cubic phase yttria-stabilized zirconia is used as a catalyst and is mixed with a molecular sieve to perform the hydrogenation. The cubic crystal structure of the yttria-stabilized zirconium dioxide is an excellent support for indium oxide particles and prevents their deactivation during CO.sub.2 hydrogenation. This direct synthesis route promotes a stable and efficient method for producing light olefins.

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.