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

The invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (A.sub.n).sup.m+{M′.sub.s[M″M.sub.12X.sub.8O.sub.yR.sub.zH.sub.q]}.sup.m− or solvates thereof, corresponding supported polyoxometalates, and processes for their preparation, as well as corresponding metal-clusters, optionally in the form of a dispersion in a liquid carrier medium or immobilized on a solid support, and processes for their preparation, as well as their use in reductive conversion of organic substrate.

A process for preparing a catalyst for selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, comprises: mixing palladium, gallium, and gold sources, silica, and a solvent to form a suspension, which is then subjected to filtration and drying so as to obtain a catalyst precursor; subjecting the catalyst precursor obtained to a calcination treatment; and subjecting a calcinated product obtained to a reduction reaction in a reducing atmosphere so as to obtain the catalyst. The catalyst prepared according to this process exhibits a high stability and high catalytic performance, and has a large number of active sites uniformly distributed.

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

A method that includes (a) providing a stream containing ethane and oxygen to an ODH reactor; (b) converting a portion of the ethane to ethylene and acetic acid in the ODH reactor to provide a stream containing ethane, ethylene, acetic acid, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (c) separating a portion of the acetic acid from the stream to provide an acetic acid stream and a stream containing ethane, ethylene, oxygen and carbon monoxide; (d) providing the stream to a CO Oxidation Reactor containing a catalyst that includes a group 11 metal to convert carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and reacting acetylene to produce a stream containing ethane, ethylene and carbon dioxide; and (e) providing a portion of the stream and a portion of the acetic acid stream to a third reactor containing a catalyst that includes a metal selected from group 10 and group 11 metals to produce vinyl acetate.

The invention relates to a catalyst composition, suitable for producing ethylene and other commercially high value C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons from methane. The composition contains a silver promoted mixed metal catalyst composition comprising at least two rare earth elements and an alkaline rare earth metal element. The catalyst composition has high catalyst activity and enables oxidative coupling of methane reactions to be conducted at a low reactor temperature while retaining sufficient catalyst selectivity. The invention further provides a method for preparing such a catalyst composition and a process for producing C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons, using such a catalyst composition.

A catalyst comprising palladium, a porous support comprising at least one refractory oxide selected from the group constituted by silica, alumina and silica-alumina, the palladium content in the catalyst being in the range 0.01% to 2% by weight with respect to the total catalyst weight, at least 80% by weight of the palladium being distributed in a crust at the periphery of said support, the thickness of said crust being in the range 20 to 100 m, characterized in that said support is in the form of an extrudate and in that said support comprises a specific surface area in the range 165 to 250 m.sup.2/g.

An oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalyst composition comprising one or more oxides doped with Ag; wherein one or more oxides comprises a single metal oxide, mixtures of single metal oxides, a mixed metal oxide, mixtures of mixed metal oxides, or combinations thereof; and wherein one or more oxides is not La.sub.2O.sub.3 alone. A method of making an OCM catalyst composition comprising calcining one or more oxides and/or oxide precursors to form one or more calcined oxides, wherein the one or more oxides comprises a single metal oxide, mixtures of single metal oxides, a mixed metal oxide, mixtures of mixed metal oxides, or combinations thereof, wherein the one or more oxides is not La.sub.2O.sub.3 alone, and wherein the oxide precursors comprise oxides, nitrates, carbonates, hydroxides, or combinations thereof; doping the one or more calcined oxides with Ag to form the OCM catalyst composition; and thermally treating the OCM catalyst composition.

Process for selective the conversion of primary C4 alcohol into propylene comprising: contacting a stream (1) containing essentially a primary C4 alcohol with at least one catalyst at a temperature ranging from 150 C. to 500 C. and at pressure ranging from 0.01 MPa to 10 MPa conditions effective to transform said primary C4 alcohol into an effluent stream (2, 5) containing essentially propylene, carbon monoxide and di-hydrogen, said transformation of primary C4 alcohol comprising at least a reaction of decarbonylation and optionally a decarboxylation reaction, said at least one catalyst comprising a support being a non-acidic i.e. having a TPD NH3 of less than 50 preferably less than 40 mol/g and optionally a non-basic catalyst i.e. having a TPD CO2 of less than 100 preferably less than 50 mol/g.

Provided is a process for preparing partially or fully hydrogenated hydrocarbons through hydrogenation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium deposited on carbon with optional acid wash and calcination treatments and with optional additions of silver and/or alkali metals.