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 process may include contacting an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock in an XTO reactor with a catalyst composite under conditions effective to convert the oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock to olefin products. The catalyst composite may include at least 10 weight percent of a modified molecular sieve. The modified molecular sieve may include at least 0.05 weight percent of an alkaline earth metal or a rare earth metal based on a weight of the modified molecular sieve. The modified molecular sieve may include at least 0.3 weight percent of P based on the weight of the modified molecular sieve.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Methods of producing propylene and/or ethylene. The methods can include contacting a mixture of C4+ compounds with a catalyst, such as a fixed bed catalyst, that includes a phosphorus treated zeolite. The mixture of C4+ compounds can include a plurality of C4 olefins, a plurality of C5 olefins, and/or a plurality of C6+ olefins.

Methods of producing at least one of ethylene and propylene. The methods may include contacting a mixture of C4+ compounds with a catalyst to convert at least a portion of the C4+ compounds to at least one of ethylene and propylene. The catalyst can include a phosphorus treated zeolite, and the mixture of C4+ compounds can include at least one of t-butyl alcohol and methyl t-butyl ether.

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.

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Methods of producing at least one of ethylene and propylene. The methods may include contacting a mixture of C4+ compounds with a catalyst to convert at least a portion of the C4+ compounds to at least one of ethylene and propylene. The catalyst can include a phosphorus treated zeolite, and the mixture of C4+ compounds can include at least one of t-butyl alcohol and methyl t-butyl ether.

Methods of producing propylene and/or ethylene. The methods can include contacting a mixture of C4+ compounds with a catalyst, such as a fixed bed catalyst, that includes a phosphorus treated zeolite. The mixture of C4+ compounds can include a plurality of C4 olefins, a plurality of C5 olefins, and/or a plurality of C6+ olefins.

A method for producing propylene, the method contains: producing a silica composite by preparing a raw material mixture containing silica and zeolite; drying the raw material mixture to obtain a dried product; and calcining the dried product; wherein the method contains the step of bringing a solution of phosphate into contact with the zeolite and/or the dried product to thereby adjust a phosphorus content in the silica composite to 0.01 to 1.0% by mass based on the total mass of the silica composite, a source of the phosphorus is phosphate, and the zeolite is of MFI type and has a SiO.sub.2/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ratio (by mol) of 20 or more; and bringing the silica composite into contact with a hydrocarbon source containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of ethylene, ethanol, methanol, and dimethyl ether in the presence of steam.