Catalytic Conversion of bio-mass derivable aliphatic alcohols to valuable alkenes or oxygenates

A solid catalyst used in a heterogeneous catalytic process for producing a C3 or C4 alkene, a C3 or C4 unsaturated aldehyde, and a C3 or C4 unsaturated carboxylic acid, comprising subjecting a feed gas mixture including an alcohol or a diol selected from the group consisting of 1, 2-propanediol or 1,3-propanediol and isobutanol, and one or more co-feed gases, which comprises air or oxygen or nitrogen, and, optionally, one or more other suitable diluting gases, to a vapor phase reaction in a heated reactor in the presence of a solid catalyst system having a single or multiple catalytic zone(s), each of which independently comprising a mix metal oxide compound having

• i) the formula AaSbbXxYyZzOn wherein A is Mo or W, X is an element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Co, Fe, Mg, Ni, Sn, V, W and Zn, Y is one selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cr, Cu, La, Mn, Mo, Nb, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Ti, and Z is one or more element from the X or Y groups or from the following:
• Ba, Cs, K, Pd, and Pt, and wherein a=1, 0.05<b<1.5, 0.01<x<1, 0<y<0.5, 0≤z<0.2 and n is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements, or
• ii) the formula AaXxYyZzOn wherein A is Mo or W, X is an element selected from the group consisting of Sb, Y is one selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cr, Cu, La, Mn, Mo, Nb, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Ti, and Z is one from the X or Y groups or from the following:
• Ba, Cs, K, Pd, and Pt, and wherein a=1, 0.05<x<1.5, 0≤y<1, 0≤z<0.5 and n is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements;
• and
• each of which being further characterized by having said mix metal oxide compound's structure and the resulting catalytic capabilities derived from a particular preparation process comprising:
• a) obtaining a solid mixture of the appropriate amounts of source materials containing selected ones of said elements to provide said elements in predetermined a, b, x, y and z ratios;
• b) calcining said mixture at a temperature from 150° C. to 900° C. at a single or multiple stages and under an atmosphere containing oxygen or an inert gas or a mixture thereof, to yield said solid mix metal oxide compound;
• and c) testing/characterizing said compound's catalytic capabilities and performances in said heterogeneous catalytic process.

A solid catalyst used in a process for producing at least one of an alkene, an aldehyde, and an unsaturated carboxylic acid, comprising subjecting a feed gas mixture of a primary aliphatic alcohol or a diol and one or more co-feed gases, which comprises air or oxygen or nitrogen, and, optionally, one or more other suitable diluting gases, to a vapor phase reaction in a heated reactor in the presence of a catalyst system having at least two or more catalytic zones, wherein each of said at least two catalytic zones comprising each of:

• i) a compound having the formula AaSbbXxYyZzOn wherein A is Mo or W, X is an element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ce, Co, Fe, Ga, Mg, Ni, Sn, V, W and Zn, Y is one selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, B, Cr, Cu, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Ti, and Z is one from the X or Y groups or from the following:
• Ba, Cs, K, Pd, Pt and Sr, and wherein a=1, 0.05<b<1.5, 0.01<x<1, 0<y<0.5, 0<z<0.2 and n is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements;
• ii) a compound having the formula AaXxYyZzOn wherein A is Mo or W, X is an element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ce, Co, Fe, Ga, Mg, Ni, Sb, Sn, V, W and Zn, Y is one selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, B, Cr, Cu, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, Ru, Ti, and Z is one from the X or Y groups or from the following:
• Ba, Cs, K, Pd, Pt and Sr, and wherein a=1, 0.05<x<1.5, 0<y<1, 0<z<0.5 and n is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements;
• and each of said mix metal oxide compound being further characterized by having its structure and the resulting catalytic capabilities derived from a particular preparation process comprising:
• a) obtaining a solid mixture of the appropriate amounts of source materials containing selected ones of said elements to provide said elements in predetermined a, b, x, y and z ratios;
• b) calcining said mixture at a temperature from 150° C. to 900° C. at a single or multiple stages and under an atmosphere containing oxygen or an inert gas or a mixture thereof, to yield said solid mix metal oxide compound;
• and c) testing/characterizing said compound's catalytic capabilities and performances in said heterogeneous catalytic process.