Synthesize a nickel oxide-based oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst via a solvent-free process that comprises sequential steps a. mixing without added solvent a combination of a solid nickel precursor, a solid oxalate or oxalic acid and, optionally, a doping amount of a metal precursor for a period of time sufficient to convert the combination to a visually homogenous mixture; and b. calcining the visually homogeneous mixture at a temperature within a range of from greater than 250° C. to less than 800° C. for a time within a range of from 30 minutes to 360 minutes in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, preferably air, to form a calcined oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst. As a modification of the process, add an intermediate step between steps a. and b. to dry the homo geneous mixture at a temperature within a range of from 50° C. to 90° C. for a period of time within a range of from 10 minutes to 600 minutes to form a dried mixture. The resulting catalyst may be used in oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane.

A process for preparing C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons includes introducing a feed stream including hydrogen gas and a carbon-containing gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof into a reaction zone of a reactor, and converting the feed stream into a product stream including C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons in the reaction zone in the presence of a formed hybrid catalyst. The formed hybrid catalyst includes a metal oxide catalyst component including gallium oxide and zirconia, a microporous catalyst component that is a molecular sieve having 8-MR (Membered Ring) pore openings, and a binder including alumina, zirconia, or both.

A process for preparing C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons includes introducing a feed stream including hydrogen gas and a carbon-containing gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof into a reaction zone of a reactor, and converting the feed stream into a product stream including C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 hydrocarbons in the reaction zone in the presence of a formed hybrid catalyst. The formed hybrid catalyst includes a metal oxide catalyst component including gallium oxide and zirconia, a microporous catalyst component that is a molecular sieve having 8-MR (Membered Ring) pore openings, and a binder including alumina, zirconia, or both.

Methods to synthesize fuels and chemicals from natural gas liquids are described. Higher alcohols are synthesized starting from natural gas liquid compounds by converting an alkane from a NGL to an olefin, dimerizing said olefin, and, hydrating said olefin product to form a higher alcohol. Higher alcohols are synthesized starting from natural gas liquid compounds by converting an alkane from a NGL to an olefin, oxidizing the olefin to form a ketone or aldehyde and, hydrogenating the aldehyde or ketone product to form a higher alcohol. Thus, NGL component butane may be dehydrogenated to form butane, butylene is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst to form methylethyl ketone and methylethyl ketone hydrogenated to form butanol.