Oxidation catalysts

Abstract

A vapor phase catalytic oxydehydrogenation process for the conversion of a steam of mixed isomeric isoamylenes, methyl butanols or mixtures thereof to isoprene with relatively short contact times at a reactor temperature in the range of 500° F. to 1100° F. at from 0.5 to about 10 atmospheres pressure. The catalysts comprise an alkali metal as an essential catalytic ingredient.

We claim: .[.1. The process for the conversion of isoamylenes, methyl butanols or mixtures thereof to isoprene comprising contacting said isoamylenes, methyl butanols or mixtures thereof with a molecular oxygen-containing gas over a catalyst consisting essentially of an activated catalytic oxide complex described by the following formula: 
     
        isoprene..]. .[.2.  The process of claim 1 wherein said molecular oxygen-containing gas is air..]. .[.3. The process of claim 2 wherein the molar ratio of isoamylenes, methyl butanols or mixtures thereof to air is from 1:0.5 to 1:30..]. .[.4. The process of claim 1 wherein nitrogen is included in the feed stream to said reaction zone..]. .[.5. The process of 
     
     
        claim 1 wherein said catalyst is supported on a catalyst support..]. 6. A catalyst composition consisting essentially of an activated catalytic oxide complex of an alkali metal, bismuth, iron and molybdenum as essential catalytic ingredients, and defined by the following formula:   Bi.sub.a Fe.sub.b Mo.sub.c Q.sub.d R.sub.e T.sub.f M.sub.g O.sub.x     wherein   Q is an alkali metal,   R is an alkaline earth metal,   T is phosphorus, arsenic or antimony,   M is cobalt .Iadd.and .Iaddend.or nickel, and wherein     a, b and c are numbers in the range 0.1 to 12,   d is a number from 0.1 to 8,   e is a number from 0 to 8,   f is a number from 0 to 6,   g is a number from 0 to 12, and   x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements   
     
     
        present. 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is potassium. 8. The 
     
     
        catalyst composition of claim 7 containing phosphorus. 9. The composition 
     
     
        of claim 8 containing cobalt. 10. The composition of claim 8 containing 
     
     
        nickel. 11. The composition of claim 6 supported on a catalyst support present in a range from 5 percent to 95 percent by weight of the supported 
     
     
        catalyst. 12. The composition of claim 7 containing cobalt and nickel. .Iadd.13. The composition of claim 7 containing Nickel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The composition of claim 7 containing cobalt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is potassium and M is cobalt, and wherein e equals 0, f equals 0, and g is a number larger than 0. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The composition of claim 7 containing antimony. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The composition of claim 7 containing arsenic. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The composition of claim 14 wherein said catalyst is 
     
     
        supported on silica. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is cesium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The composition of claim 19 containing nickel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The composition of claim 19 containing cobalt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The composition of claim 19 containing arsenic. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The composition of claim 19 containing phosphorous. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The composition of claim 19 containing antimony. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The composition of claim 19 wherein said catalyst is supported on silica. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is rubidium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The composition of claim 26 containing nickel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The composition of claim 26 containing cobalt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The composition of claim 26 containing antimony. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The composition of claim 26 containing phosphorous. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The composition of claim 26 containing arsenic. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The composition of claim 26 wherein said catalyst is supported on silica. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  The composition of claim 6 containing nickel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. The composition of claim 6 containing cobalt. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35. The composition of claim 6 wherein Q is sodium. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A catalyst composition of claim 6 wherein c is 12. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A catalyst composition of claim 15 wherein c is 12. .Iaddend.