A catalyst precursor composition for forming a phenol alkylation catalyst, the composition comprising: 70 to 98 weight percent of abase oxide comprising: magnesium oxide with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area from 75 meter.sup.2/gram to 220 meter.sup.2/gram, preferably from 75 meter.sup.2/gram to 140 meter.sup.2/gram, more preferably from 90 meter.sup.2/gram to 130 meter.sup.2/gram; or magnesium carbonate with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of from 100 meter.sup.2/gram to 220 meter.sup.2/gram, preferably from 120 meter.sup.2/gram to 200 meter.sup.2/gram; or a combination thereof; at least one metal promoter precursor comprising an iron precursor, a manganese, a vanadium precursor, or a copper precursor; and a pore former, a lubricant, a coke inhibitor; and optionally, a strength additive; and optionally a binder, and a method of alkylating phenol using a catalyst derived from the catalyst precursor.

A catalyst precursor composition for forming a phenol alkylation catalyst, the composition comprising: 70 to 98 weight percent of abase oxide comprising: magnesium oxide with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area from 75 meter.sup.2/gram to 220 meter.sup.2/gram, preferably from 75 meter.sup.2/gram to 140 meter.sup.2/gram, more preferably from 90 meter.sup.2/gram to 130 meter.sup.2/gram; or magnesium carbonate with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of from 100 meter.sup.2/gram to 220 meter.sup.2/gram, preferably from 120 meter.sup.2/gram to 200 meter.sup.2/gram; or a combination thereof; at least one metal promoter precursor comprising an iron precursor, a manganese, a vanadium precursor, or a copper precursor; and a pore former, a lubricant, a coke inhibitor; and optionally, a strength additive; and optionally a binder, and a method of alkylating phenol using a catalyst derived from the catalyst precursor.

Methods for gas-phase deoxygenation of a bio-oil are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a bio-oil vapor comprising hydrocarbon compounds having oxygenated aromatic groups, to hydrogen gas in the presence of catalyst under conditions to induce deoxygenation of the oxygenated aromatic groups to provide a deoxygenated aromatic species, wherein the catalyst is a transition metal-incorporated mesoporous silicate having platinum deposited thereon and the transition metal is selected from Nb, W, Zr, and combinations thereof. The transition metal-incorporated mesoporous silicate catalysts are also provided.

Methods for gas-phase deoxygenation of a bio-oil are provided. In embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a bio-oil vapor comprising hydrocarbon compounds having oxygenated aromatic groups, to hydrogen gas in the presence of catalyst under conditions to induce deoxygenation of the oxygenated aromatic groups to provide a deoxygenated aromatic species, wherein the catalyst is a transition metal-incorporated mesoporous silicate having platinum deposited thereon and the transition metal is selected from Nb, W, Zr, and combinations thereof. The transition metal-incorporated mesoporous silicate catalysts are also provided.

Processes of producing cresols from a phenols containing feed are described. The processes involve a combination of dealkylation and transalkylation processes. The dealkylation process converts the heavy alkylphenols in an alkylphenols stream to phenol and olefins. The olefins produced in the dealkylation process are separated out. The methylphenols, which are not converted in the dealkylation process, and phenol react in the transalkylation process to generate cresols.

Processes of producing cresols from a phenols containing feed are described. The processes involve a combination of dealkylation and transalkylation processes. The dealkylation process converts the heavy alkylphenols in an alkylphenols stream to phenol and olefins. The olefins produced in the dealkylation process are separated out. The methylphenols, which are not converted in the dealkylation process, and phenol react in the transalkylation process to generate cresols.

A fluid catalytic cracking process for p-cresol dimer to produce valuable phenolic monomers, i.e., 2-methyl phenol, 4-methyl phenol, 2,3-xylenol, and phenol, uses an equilibrium catalyst (E-cat) generated in the petroleum fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit. The p-cresol dimer can be processed under relatively mild conditions, while maximizing desired and minimizing undesired products. The process may include charging an equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst; heating to a predetermined cracking temperature and pressure; (c) charging a p-cresol dimer feed; (d) contacting the p-cresol dimer with the equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst; (e) condensing resulting phenolic monomer vapors to obtain phenolic monomer liquid and fluidization gas; (f) separating the phenolic monomer liquid from the fluidization gas; (g) collecting the separated phenolic monomer liquid; (h) separating the collected phenolic monomer liquid individual phenolic monomers; and (i) recycling any unconverted p-cresol dimer into the fluidized bed reactor.

A fluid catalytic cracking process for p-cresol dimer to produce valuable phenolic monomers, i.e., 2-methyl phenol, 4-methyl phenol, 2,3-xylenol, and phenol, uses an equilibrium catalyst (E-cat) generated in the petroleum fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit. The p-cresol dimer can be processed under relatively mild conditions, while maximizing desired and minimizing undesired products. The process may include charging an equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst; heating to a predetermined cracking temperature and pressure; (c) charging a p-cresol dimer feed; (d) contacting the p-cresol dimer with the equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst; (e) condensing resulting phenolic monomer vapors to obtain phenolic monomer liquid and fluidization gas; (f) separating the phenolic monomer liquid from the fluidization gas; (g) collecting the separated phenolic monomer liquid; (h) separating the collected phenolic monomer liquid individual phenolic monomers; and (i) recycling any unconverted p-cresol dimer into the fluidized bed reactor.

The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a final phenolic product from biomass comprising the steps of providing a furanic compound obtainable from biomass; reacting the furanic compound with a dienophile to obtain a phenolic compound; reacting the phenolic compound further to obtain the final phenolic product.

The present invention is directed to a method for preparing a final phenolic product from biomass comprising the steps of providing a furanic compound obtainable from biomass; reacting the furanic compound with a dienophile to obtain a phenolic compound; reacting the phenolic compound further to obtain the final phenolic product.