A method of oxidative dehydrogenating of butane stream comprises contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of oxygen, wherein the bimetallic catalyst containing nickel and bismuth or oxides thereof supported on solid support such as zirconium oxide, low aluminum MFI zeolite, and mesoporous silica foam. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

Composite catalysts having bismuth silicate(s) (e.g. Bi.sub.2SiO.sub.5) and transition metal oxide(s) (e.g. nickel oxide) impregnated on mesoporous silica supports such as SBA-15, mesoporous silica foam, and silica sol. Methods of making and characterizing the composite catalysts as well as processes for oxidatively dehydrogenating alkanes (e.g. n-butane) and/or alkenes (e.g. 1-butene, 2-butene) to corresponding dienes (e.g. butadiene) employing the composite catalysts are also described.

Composite catalysts having bismuth silicate(s) (e.g. Bi.sub.2SiO.sub.5) and transition metal oxide(s) (e.g. nickel oxide) impregnated on mesoporous silica supports such as SBA-15, mesoporous silica foam, and silica sol. Methods of making and characterizing the composite catalysts as well as processes for oxidatively dehydrogenating alkanes (e.g. n-butane) and/or alkenes (e.g. 1-butene, 2-butene) to corresponding dienes (e.g. butadiene) employing the composite catalysts are also described.

The present invention pertains to a novel process of manufacturing the compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf). The compound 1234yf is the newest refrigerant with zero OPD (Ozone Depleting Potential) and zero GWP (Global Warming Potential). Thus, the invention relates to a process, involving a carbene generation route, for the manufacture of the compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf), of the compound 243db (2,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropane), and optionally of the compound 2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropene (1233xf) via carbene route and compound 243db (2,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropane). The invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of the compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf), wherein the compound 243db (2,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropane) serves as a starting material, for the manufacture of the compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf). Further, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of the compound 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (1234yf), and of the compound 243db (2,3-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoropropane), the initial starting materials are selected from the group consisting of com-pound 123 (2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane), compound 124 (2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane), and compound 125 (pentafluoroethane).

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating of butane stream comprises contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of oxygen, wherein the bimetallic catalyst containing nickel and bismuth or oxides thereof supported on solid support such as zirconium oxide, low aluminum MFI zeolite, and mesoporous silica foam. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

Oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts comprising bismuth and nickel oxides impregnated on mesoporous silica supports such as SBA-15 and mesoporous silica foam. Methods of preparing and characterizing the catalysts as well as processes for oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butane to butadiene using the catalysts are also described. The disclosed catalysts demonstrate higher n-butane conversion and butadiene selectivity than catalysts supported by conventional silica.

A process for preparing butadiene from n-butenes, comprising the steps of: A) providing an input gas stream comprising n-butenes; B) feeding the input gas stream comprising n-butenes and a gas containing at least oxygen into at least one oxidative dehydrogenation zone and oxidatively dehydrogenating n-butenes to butadiene, giving a product gas stream; Ca) cooling the product gas stream by contacting with a circulating cooling medium in at least one cooling zone; Cb) compressing the cooled product gas stream in at least one compression stage, giving at least one aqueous condensate stream c1 and one gas stream c2; D) removing uncondensable and low-boiling gas constituents comprising oxygen and low-boiling hydrocarbons as gas stream d2 from the gas stream c2 by absorbing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons in an absorbent, giving an absorbent stream laden with C.sub.4 hydrocarbons and the gas stream d2, and then desorbing the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons from the laden absorbent stream, giving a C.sub.4 product gas stream d1; E) separating the C.sub.4 product stream d1 by extractive distillation; F) distilling the stream e1 into a stream f1 consisting essentially of the selective solvent and a stream f2 comprising butadiene; G) removing a portion of the aqueous phase of the cooling medium which circulates in step Ca) as aqueous purge stream g; H) distillatively separating the aqueous purge stream g into a fraction h1 and a fraction h2 depleted of organic constituents.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.