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 relates to a catalyst which comprises: a) a mixed metal oxide of molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium; and b) ceria particles having a crystallite size greater than 15 nanometers (nm); wherein the amount of the ceria particles, based on the total amount of the catalyst, is of from 1 to 60 wt. %. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst, which comprises mixing a mixed metal oxide of molybdenum, vanadium, niobium and optionally tellurium with ceria particles having a crystallite size greater than 15 nanometers (nm), wherein the amount of the ceria particles, based on the total amount of the catalyst, is of from 1 to 60 wt. %. Still further, the invention relates to an alkane oxidative dehydrogenation and/or alkene oxidation process wherein such catalyst is used.

A method for preparing a mixed-metal oxide catalyst comprising molybdenum, vanadium, at least one of niobium or tantalum, and at least one of tellurium or antimony and useful for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene, the method comprising preparing a catalyst precursor, pressing the precursor into a dense pellet using a pressure of greater than about 5,000 psi, and annealing the pellet to form the mixed-metal oxide catalyst.

The invention relates to a process for the production of 1,3-butadiene from a feed comprising ethanol and acetaldehyde in the presence of a supported tantalum catalyst obtainable by aqueous impregnation of the support with a water-soluble tantalum precursor. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the production of a supported tantalum catalyst, and the supported tantalum catalyst. Finally, the invention relates to the use of the supported tantalum catalyst for the production of 1,3-butadiene from a feed comprising ethanol and acetaldehyde to increase one or both of selectivity and yield of the reaction.

A method of converting one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes that includes a) providing a first stream containing one or more alkanes and oxygen to an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor; b) converting at least a portion of the one or more alkanes to one or more alkenes in the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor to provide a second stream exiting the oxidative dehydrogenation reactor containing one or more alkanes, one or more alkenes, oxygen, carbon monoxide and optionally acetylene; and c) providing the second stream to a second reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert a least a portion of the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting the acetylene.

Methods and phosphorus-containing solid catalysts for catalyzing dehydration of cyclic ethers (e.g., furans, such as 2,5-dimethylfuran) and alcohols (e.g., ethanol and isopropanol). The alcohols and cyclic ethers may be derived from biomass. One example includes a tandem Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethyl-furan and ethylene to renewable p-xylene. The phosphorus-containing solid catalysts are also active and selective for dehydration of alcohols to alkenes.

A method of turning a catalytic material by altering the charge state of a catalyst support. The catalyst support is intercalated with a metal ion, altering the charge state to alter and/or augment the catalytic activity of the catalyst material.

The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane comprises contacting a mixture of ethane and oxygen in an ODH reactor with an ODH catalyst under conditions that promote oxidation of ethane into ethylene. Conditions within the reactor are controlled by the operator and include, but are not limited to, parameters such as 5 temperature, pressure, and flow rate. Conditions will vary and can be optimized for a specific catalyst, or whether an inert diluent is used in the mixing of the reactants. Disclosed herein is a catalyst consisting of: Mo.sub.0-1W.sub.0.3-1V.sub.0.2-0.4Te.sub.0.06-0.10Fe.sub.0.0-0.10Nb.sub.0.08-0.18O.sub.X where X is determined by the valance of the metals.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts comprising MoVNbTeO having improved consistency of composition and a 25% conversion of ethylene at less than 420° C. and a selectivity to ethylene above 95% are prepared by treating the catalyst precursor with H.sub.2O.sub.2 in an amount equivalent to 0.30-2.8 mL H.sub.2O.sub.2 of a 30% solution per gram of catalyst precursor prior to calcining and treating the resulting catalyst with the equivalent amount of peroxide after calcining.

The present disclosure relates to limiting the production of acetic acid in an oxidative dehydrogenation process to convert ethane to ethylene. The process of oxidative dehydrogenation includes feeding acetic acid, along with ethane and oxygen into an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor where contact with a catalyst leads to conversion of the ethane into ethylene and acetic acid. By including acetic acid in the feed, the amount of acetic acid produced may be limited and the ratio of ethylene produced to ethane consumed may increase.