The present invention relates to a hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst comprising: i) 1 to 50 wt. % nanoparticles comprising iron and at least one of a metal M selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals of groups 3 to 7 and 9 to 11 of the Periodic Table of Elements, lanthanides and combinations of M thereof; and ii) 50 to 99 wt. % of an aluminosilicate or silicoaluminophosphate zeolite, based on the total weight of the catalyst, wherein said nanoparticle has a diameter of about 2 to 50 nm. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing the hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst and a process for the production of light olefins using the hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst.

A hydrogenolysis bimetallic supported catalyst comprising a first metal, a second metal, and a zeolitic support; wherein the first metal and the second metal are different; and wherein the first metal and the second metal can each independently be selected from the group consisting of iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), palladium (Pd), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co).

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth content of about 4% to about 11% by weight on the basis of the oxide, a phosphorus content of about 0.05% to about 10% by weight on the basis of P.sub.2O.sub.5, a sodium content of no more than about 0.5% by weight on the basis of sodium oxide, a gallium content of about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight on the basis of gallium oxide, and a zirconium content of about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight on the basis of zirconia; and the modified Y-type molecular sieve has a total pore volume of about 0.36 mL/g to about 0.48 mL/g, a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 20% to about 40%.

A modified Y-type molecular sieve has a rare earth content of about 4-11% by weight on the basis of rare earth oxide, a sodium content of no more than about 0.5 wt % by weight on the basis of sodium oxide, a zinc content of about 0.5-5% by weight on the basis of zinc oxide, a phosphorus content of about 0.05-10% by weight on the basis of phosphorus pentoxide, a framework silica-alumina ratio of about 7-14 calculated on the basis of SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio, a percentage of non-framework aluminum content to the total aluminum content of no more than about 10%, and a percentage of the pore volume of secondary pores having a pore size of 2-100 nm to the total pore volume of about 20-40%. The modified Y-type molecular sieve has a high crystallinity and a high thermal and hydrothermal stability, and is rich in secondary pores.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a diene, preferably a conjugated diene, more preferably 1,3-butadiene, comprising the dehydration of at least one alkenol having a number of carbon atoms greater than or equal to 4, in the presence of a catalytic material comprising at least one crystalline metalosilicate in acid form, preferably a macroporous zeolite, more preferably a zeolite with a FAU, BEA or MTW structure. Preferably, said alkenol having a number of carbon atoms greater than or equal to 4 may be obbtained directly through biosynthetic processes, or through catalytic dehydration processes of at least one diol. When said alkenol is a butenol, said diol is preferably a butanediol, more preferably 1,3-butanediol, even more preferably bio-1,3-butanediol, i.e. 1,3-butanediol deriving from biosynthetic processes. When said alkenol is 1,3-butanediol, or bio-1,3-butanediol, the diene obtained with the process according to the present invention is, respectively, 1,3-butadiene, or bio-1,3-butadiene.

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.

Methods of simultaneously converting butanes and methanol to olefins over Ti-containing zeolite catalysts are described. The exothermicity of the alcohols to olefins reaction is matched by endothermicity of dehydrogenation reaction of butane(s) to light olefins resulting in a thermo-neutral process. The Ti-containing zeolites provide excellent selectivity to light olefins as well as exceptionally high hydrothermal stability. The coupled reaction may advantageously be conducted in a staged reactor with methanol/DME conversion zones alternating with zones for butane(s) dehydrogenation. The resulting light olefins can then be reacted with iso-butane to produce high-octane alkylate. The net result is a highly efficient and low cost method for converting methanol and butanes to alkylate.

The disclosure relates to a zeolite catalyst for side-chain alkylation of toluene with methanol, including a zeolite NaX and Na.sub.3PO.sub.4 or Na.sub.2HPO.sub.4 supported on the zeolite NaX. The zeolite catalyst can be effective for catalyzing the side-chain alkylation of toluene with methanol. The disclosure also relates to a process for preparing a zeolite catalyst for side-chain alkylation of toluene with methanol, which is simple, practical and cheap in cost.

Disclosed is a method for converting cymene generated from renewable low value terpene streams into renewable benzene, toluene, xylenes, and cymene isomers (ortho and meta) under flow disproportionation reaction conditions, which compounds are basic building blocks for fragrance materials. This technology has potential to replace high volume petrochemical-based feedstocks with plant-based building blocks that can fill the renewability gap for key fragrance ingredients.

This invention describes methods of alkylating isobutane which include a catalytic reaction system comprising a crystalline zeolite catalyst and a rare earth-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (RE—MSA). The crystalline zeolite catalyst comprises sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals; and up to 5 wt% of Pt, Pd and or Ni, and acid-site density (including both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites) of at least 100 .Math.mole/gm. The RE-modified molecular sieve adsorbent (Re—MSA) comprising sodalite cages and supercages, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 1 wt% of alkali metals, RE (rare earth elements) in the range of 10 to 30 wt% and transition metals selected from groups 9-11 in the range from 2 wt% to 10 wt; and acid-site density of no more than 30 .Math.mole/gm. The invention also includes methods of making RE—MSA.