Methods for reacting chemical streams with catalysts comprising silica, alumina, and tungsten

A method for reacting a chemical stream, the method comprising:

• contacting the chemical stream with a catalyst to produce a product stream, wherein
• the chemical stream comprises at least 2-butene and the product stream comprises at least propylene which is the result of both isomerization and metathesis of at least the 2-butene of the chemical stream;
• the catalyst comprises a silica and alumina support and less than 5 weight percent tungsten, based on the total weight of the catalyst;
• the tungsten is distributed within the silica and alumina support;
• the contacting of the chemical stream with the catalyst is at a temperature of less than 500° C.;
• and
• the catalyst is produced by a process comprising:
• forming a catalyst precursor mixture comprising a diluent and a catalyst precursor, the catalyst precursor comprising a tungsten precursor, an alumina precursor, and a silica precursor;
• aerosolizing the catalyst precursor mixture;
• drying the aerosolized catalyst precursor mixture to form a dried catalyst precursor;
• and
• reacting the dried catalyst precursor to yield the catalyst, the catalyst comprising a silica or silica and alumina support comprising tungsten distributed within the silica and alumina support, and wherein the weight ratio of alumina to silica is from 0.1:99.9 to less than 5:95.