| abstract |
A mixed basic metal oxide/sulfide catalyst having the formula xA.yB.zC.qD wherein A is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and mixtures thereof; B is a cation which has an ionization state 2 and 3 greater than the ionization state of C; B is selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, niobium, vanadium and mixtures thereof; C is selected from magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and mixtures thereof; D is selected from oxygen, sulfur and mixtures thereof; x and y are in mole fractions of z such that when z=1 then x=0.001 to 0.25, and y=0.001 to 0.25; and q is a number necessary to maintain charge balance with D. The sulfide form provides tolerance for sulfur containing feedstocks. The catalyst is useful for oxidative coupling of methane and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds with an aromatic compound to produce higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and for dehydrogenating hydrocarbon compounds to produce unsaturated aliphatic and alicyclic chains. |