This invention relates to the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons and catalysts useful in such processes.

Iron oxide based catalysts are widely used in the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons. Iron oxide materials from which these catalyst may be prepared exist naturally as several minerals. These minerals include red, yellow, brown, and black iron oxide materials. For example, red iron oxide minerals are usually hematite (α-Fe2θ3), yellow iron oxide can be lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH or Fβ2θ3.nH2θ) or goethite (α-FeOOH or Fe2θ3-nH2θ), brown iron oxide is maghemite (γ-Fe2θ3), and black iron oxide is magnetite (Fe3θ_j) .

Synthetic hematite, goethite, lepidocrocite, maghemite, and magnetite are among the most important iron oxides for use in industrial applications.

Synthetic hematite produced by calcination of synthetic goethite is most widely used to catalyze the conversion of ethylbenzene to styrene because these materials often have the highest purity (>98%Fβ2θ3) . U.S. Patent Nos. 4,052,338; 4,098,723; 4,143,083;

4,144,197; and 4,152,300 all propose dehydrogenation catalysts comprising small amounts of oxidic compounds and rare earths added to iron-potassium oxide base catalysts. In each case, these components were blended, pelletized, and dried. The pellets were then calcined.

Selectivity was consistent at approximately 92 mole% (for styrene) among these compositions at a 70% molar conversion of ethylbenzene to products. U.S. Patent 5,023,225 proposed a catalyst with improved stability. In this patent, prior to catalyst formation, a yellow iron oxide was heated in the presence of a small

amount of a chromium compound until the yellow iron oxide was converted to red iron oxide.

It has now been found that iron oxide based catalysts with enhanced catalytic properties can be prepared by predoping iron oxide compounds under certain conditions. The catalysts produced from such predoped iron oxides display particularly noteworthy selectivity improvements over iron oxide based catalysts which have not been so predoped. In one aspect of this invention catalysts are prepared by a method comprising a) predoping iron oxide with a predopant substance comprising an element selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Sn, Pb, Bi, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; b) heating said predoped iron oxide mixture to a temperature of at least 600 °C; and c) forming a catalyst from said heated predoped iron oxide.

In another aspect of the invention, a process for the dehydrogenation of a composition having at least one carbon-carbon saturated bond is presented which comprises contacting said composition with a catalytic quantity of a composition comprising said predoped iron oxide.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the predoped iron oxide catalyst is used to catalyze the conversion of ethylbenzene to styrene. This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound having the general formula: R1R2CCH2 (Formula I) wherein R]_ and R2 each represent an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aryl (such as a phenyl) group or a hydrogen atom, by the dehydrogenation of a compound having the general formula: R1R2CHCH3 (Formula II)

wherein R^ and R2 have the same meanings as in Formula I. This process generally involves contacting a compound of Formula II with a catalyst comprising iron oxide in the presence of super-heated steam and elevated temperatures. Ordinarilly, the catalyst is pelletized and comprises between 50 and 100 percent by weight, basis Fe2θ3, of a predoped iron oxide.

Rl of Formula II may represent a phenyl group with one or more substituents; particularly methyl groups. Preferably, R^ is an unsubstituted phenyl group and R2 is a hydrogen or a methyl group. Ethylbenzene is a most preferred starting compound from which stryene may be produced. The alkanes of Formula II preferably have in the range of from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms per molecule. Molecules having from about 4 to about

8 carbon atoms such as n-butane and 2-methylbutane are even more preferred. The alkenes of Formula II preferably have in the range of from about 2 to about 20 carbon atoms. Molecules having from about 4 to about 8 carbon atoms such as 1-butene (forming 1,3,-butadiene) , 2-methyl-l-butene and 3-methyl-l-butene (both forming isoprene) are even more preferred.

The catalysts of this invention are comprised of predoped iron oxide materials. Preferred iron oxide materials for predoping are comprised of α-Fe2θ3.

However, the iron oxide materials which may be predoped according to this invention can also comprise hydrated or non-hydrated Fβ2θ3 or precursors thereto whether synthetically produced or naturally found. According to the present invention iron oxide compositions are predoped by heating them in the presence of another material which induces enhanced catalytic effect. Such materials are substances having one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Ru,

Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Ge, Sn, Pb, Bi, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. Such substances can include, for example monometallic oxidic salts such as ammonium dimolybdate; bimetallic oxidic salts such as potassium permanganate; simple salts such as carbonates (eg., cerium (III) carbonate), nitrates (eg., magnesium nitrate) , and hydroxides; oxides such as copper oxide; carbon containing compounds such as calcium acetate; mixtures thereof and hydrates or solvates thereof.

Preferred compounds for this purpose are comprised of molybdenum, copper, calcium, zinc, cobalt, and cerium. The most preferred compounds for this purpose are ammonium dimolybdate, molybdenum trioxide, copper oxide, zinc oxide, calcium acetate, cobalt carbonate, and cerium (III) carbonate.

Thus far, it has been found that between about 0.5 %wt and 6 %wt (based on total weight of the predopant and iron oxide mixture) of these materials are useful in predoping the iron oxide. However, the specific amount of materials used to predope the iron oxide is not perceived to be critical to the invention. Not wishing to be bound to theory, it is believed that predoping the iron oxide is itself a catalytic process. That is, the material used to predope the iron oxide reduces the energy of activation for a physical alteration of the iron oxide which physical change is manifested in enhanced catalytic performance when the iron oxide is then used in a catalyst formulation (one parameter of which may be the enlargement of median pore diameter as set forth below) . Thus, greater or lesser quantities of agents used to predope the iron oxide other than those mentioned above will also enhance the catalytic performance of the iron oxide based catalysts albeit, perhaps, to a variable degree.

This process requires the mixture of the iron oxide and the material used to predope it to be heated to a temperature of at least 600 °C. However, the temperature cannot exceed 1600 °C, the melting point of iron oxide. The application of this heat over time periods between 10 minutes and 3 hours has been found to be effective. Again, while not being bound to theory, it is believed that the iron oxide mixed with predoping material must be subjected to this heat for a time sufficient to cause the iron oxide to undergoe its change in physical structure. In any event, it is most preferred that the iron oxide and predopant mixture is maintained at this elevated temperature for at least about 20 minutes to one hour. Mass transfer within the pore structure or the interparticulate void space of a catalyst is important to the efficacy and efficiency of the catalyst system. The distrubtion and form of space or pores about and within the particles has much to do with the mass transfer associated with catalysis. Surface area, median pore diameter and pore volume are measurements associated with these aspects of the particles. Throughout this specification, surface area of the catalyst is determined by the well known B.E.T. method, Brunauer, Emmet and Teller, J. Am. Chem. Soc. _60 (1938) 309-316. The median pore diameter and pore volume will be used to represent the measurements taken by the method of mercury instrusion porosimetry.

Preferred predoped iron oxide particles made according to this invention and used in the catalysts and process of this invention display surface areas less than about 1.9 m^ g as measured by the B.E.T. method. Median pore diameters of the catalysts made from these predoped iron oxides range from 0.1 to 1.5 micrometer as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. Effective predoping of the iron oxide is also accompanied by a decrease of

between 5 and 75% in the pore volume of the catalyst made therefrom with respect to an analagous catalyst made with non-predoped iron oxide. Preferred catalysts show a decrease in pore volume of between 20 and 75%. Most preferred catalysts show a decrease in pore volume of between 30 and 75%.

Catalyst forms such as pellets, tablets, spheres, pills, saddles, trilobes, tetralobes and the like are formed from the predoped iron oxide of this invention. The iron oxide is mixed with predopant before it is heated and before the catalyst is prepared into a form such as a pellet. Moreover, in some embodiments of this invention, the iron oxide is mixed with a predopant, heated and cooled and then further mixed with additives and/or promoters. This mixture or blend is then molded into the various forms mentioned above (or others) and then heated and cooled again.

Dehydrogenation processes using the catalysts of this invention are carried out using a molar ratio of steam to compound of Formula II in the range of from 2 to 20. Preferably, the range is from 5 to 13. Reaction temperatures are in a range of from 400 to 750 °C. Preferably, the range is from 550 to 650 °C. The process may be carried out at atmospheric, superatmoshperic, or sub-atmoshperic pressures. Atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressures are preferred. Liquid Hourly Space Velocities (LHSV) range from between about 0.1 and about 5 1/1/hour, using, for example, a tubular or radial flow reactor. The term "selectivity" as used herein is defined as the amount of compound of Formula II that has been converted into compound of Formula I divided by the total amount of compound of Formula II that has been converted to any product times one hundred. In this specification selectivities are typically measured at a standard

conversion level for compound of formula II. For example, as used herein S70 refers to the molar selectivity of ethylbenzene conversion to styrene at 70% molar conversion of ethylbenzene. The activity of a catalyst is inversely related to the temperature. The more active the catalyst, the lower is the temperature that will be needed to obtain the same degree of conversion. Activities utilized in the instant specification are typically related to a given degree of conversion. For example, T70 refers to the temperature at which a 70% molar conversion of ethylbenzene to any product occurs.

The invention will be illustrated by the following Examples. EXAMPLES

In each example that is not a comparative example, an iron oxide composition was first predoped by mixing iron oxide with various dry components (for about 10 minutes in a mixer-muller except as otherwise noted) , adding deionized water or dilute aqueous H2SO4 and continuing mixing (for 5-15 minutes for a total mixing time of 25 minutes except as otherwise noted) . The mixed components were then screened through a standard No. 7 sieve (having sieve openings of 2.83 mm) to break up any lumps, placed in dishes, and loaded into a muffle furnace at 170 °C. These mixtures were then heated to the temperature indicated in the examples by ramping the furnace temperature at 6 °C per minute. The temperatures were maintained at the set point for one hour. Thereafter, the furnace was turned off and the iron oxide powder, treated as above, was allowed to cool to room temperature, in the furnace, over night (except as otherwise noted) .

The iron oxides used in the comparative examples are the base cases for the examples according to the

invention. That is, the iron oxides of the comparative examples have not been predoped according to this invention. The iron oxide catalyst examples according to this invention were prepared by predoping the iron oxide of the comparative examples with the materials listed in the examples at the conditions specified. Thus, Comparative Example A is the base case (non-predoped) for Examples 1-12; Comparative Example B is the base case (non-predoped) for Examples 13-14; Comparative Example C is the base case (non-predoped) for Example 15;

Comparative Example D is the base case (non-predoped) for Examples 16-17; and Comparative Example E is the base case (non-predoped) for Example 18. Comparative Example F is the base case (non-predoped) for Comparative Example Fl (non-predoped) which is without corresponding examples according to this invention.

To test the catalytic effect of predoped iron oxide, each mixture formed as outlined above and each iron oxide comparative example sample was then formed into 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) catalyst pellets. This was done by taking the iron oxide composition and mixing it with various ingredients for about 10 minutes in a mixer-muller except as otherwise noted, adding deionized water and continuing mixing (for 5-15 minutes for a total mixing time of 25 minutes except as otherwise noted) . The mixed components were then screened through a standard No. 7 (2.83 mm openings) sieve to break up any lumps and then processed through a laboratory scale California Pellet Mill. The pellets so obtained were then dried for about 15 - 60 minutes at 170 °C in an electrically heated drying oven and then transferred to an electrically heated muffle furnace where they were calcined at 800 - 825 °C for about one hour.

The catalyst pellets were then used in the preparation of styrene from ethylbenzene under isothermal

conditions in a reactor designed for continuous operation. The conditions of the catalyst test were as follows: 100 cm ³ of catalyst, 600 °C reactor temperature, LHSV of 0.65 measured in liters of ethylbenzene per liter of catalyst per hour, a steam to ethylbenzene molar ratio of 10:1, and a reactor pressure of 7.5 kPa.

The catalyst testing results are reported in terms of T 0 and S70 where T70 is the temperature required for a given catalyst to convert 70% of the ethylbenzene feed to products and S70 is the molar selectivity to product styrene.

Catalytic performance data for catalysts made from non-predoped iron oxides and the predoped iron oxide of the examples are summarized in Table 1 below.

Example A (Comparative): Synthetic Red Iron Oxide.

An iron oxide catalyst was prepared by adding 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, and 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, to 1103.5 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide; 201.3 grams of deionized water was added in the mixing step. Example 1-A: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Ammonium Dimolybdate:

An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping 1204 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 28.1 grams of ammonium dimolybdate in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 750 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1121.8 grams of

predoped iron oxide; 106.8 grams of deionized water was added during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 1-B: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Ammonium Dimolybdate: An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping

1204 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 28.1 grams of ammonium dimolybdate in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 825 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate,

255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1121.8 grams of predoped iron oxide; 82.2 grams of deionized water was added during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 1-C: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Ammonium Dimolybdate: An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping 1204 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 28.1 grams of ammonium dimolybdate in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 900 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 19.0 grams of calcium carbonate, 128.5 grams of cerium (III) carbonate,

260.2 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1143.6 grams of predoped iron oxide; 63.7 grams of deionized water was added during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 1-D: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Ammonium Dimolybdate:

An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping 1500 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 35.1 grams of ammonium dimolybdate in the process noted above; 250 grams of deionized water was added

during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 950 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1121.8 grams of predoped iron oxide; 54.8 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 2-A: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Copper (II) Oxide:

An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping 1208.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 9.7 grams of copper oxide in the process noted above; 110 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was heated to 975 °C by inserting it into the furnace preheated to 975 °C. The predoped iron oxide composition was removed from the furnace after one hour and was cooled by exposure to ambient room conditions (about 20 °C) . Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1108.9 grams of predoped iron oxide; 89.6 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 2-B: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Copper (II) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was formed by predoping 1208.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 19.4 grams of copper oxide in the process noted above; 110 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was heated to 975 °C by inserting it into the furnace preheated to 975 °C. The predoped iron oxide composition

was removed from the furnace after one hour and was cooled by exposure to ambient room conditions (about 20 °C) .

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1117.8 grams of predoped iron oxide; 100.1 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 2-C: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Copper (II)

Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1208.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 29.1 grams of copper oxide in the process noted above; 110 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was heated to 975 °C by inserting it into the furnace preheated to 975 °C. The predoped iron oxide composition was removed from the furnace after one hour and was cooled by exposure to ambient room conditions (about 20 °C) .

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1126.6 grams of predoped iron oxide; 87.2 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 2-D: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Copper (II) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1208.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 48.4 grams of copper oxide in the process noted above; 110 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was heated to 975 °C by inserting it into the furnace

preheated to 975 °C. The predoped iron oxide composition was removed from the furnace after one hour and was cooled by exposure to ambient room conditions (about 20 °C) . Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1144.4 grams of predoped iron oxide; 113.5 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 3: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Calcium (II) Acetate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 32.0 grams of calcium acetate dissolved in 150 grams of deionized water, over 15 minutes, while mulling (mixing) . The mixture was placed in stainless steel dishes, dried in an electrically heated drying oven, 30 minutes at 170 °C, and then was and loaded into an electrically heated muffle furnace at 700 °C. Air flow through the furnace was maintained at 1133 liter/hr throughout the calcination. The furnace temperature was ramped to 900 °C, over one hour, and was maintained at that set point temperature for one hour. Thereafter, the furnace was turned off and the iron oxide powder, treated as above, was allowed to cool to room temperature, over night.

Catalyst ingredients included 121.3 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.6 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 245.6 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1110.4 grams of predoped iron oxide; 92.3 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example 4: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Zinc (II) Oxide: An iron oxide compositions was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 19.9 grams of zinc oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1118.2 grams of predoped iron oxide; 125.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 5: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Tin (IV) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 36.7 grams of tin oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1133.6 grams of predoped iron oxide; 146.5 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 6: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Manganese (IV) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 21.2 grams of manganese oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1119.4 grams of predoped iron oxide; 116.8 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 7: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Vanadium (V) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1203.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 22.1 grams of vanadium oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to a temperature of 700 °C. Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1120.3 grams of predoped iron oxide; 154.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 8: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Titanium (IV) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 19.4 grams of titanium oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1117.8 grams of predoped iron oxide; 115.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example 9: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Bismuth (III) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 56.7 grams of bismuth oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 825 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1152.0 grams of predoped iron oxide; 136.3 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 10: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Lead (II) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 54.3 grams of lead oxide in the process outlined above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 900 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.1 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1149.8 grams of predoped iron oxide; 114.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 11: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Cobalt (II) Carbonate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1204.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 29.0 grams of cobalt carbonate in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1116.7 grams of predoped iron oxide; 125.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 12: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Cerium (III) Carbonate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1204.0 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 68.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 975 °C. Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.9 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1138.4 grams of predoped iron oxide; 142.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example B (Comparative) : Catalyst Prepared with Synthetic Red Iron Oxide: An iron oxide catalyst was prepared by adding 20.1 grams of calcium carbonate, 103.1 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 32.3 grams of ammonium paratungstate, and 200.9 grams of potassium carbonate, to 902.9 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide; 119.1 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step. Example 13: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Ammonium

Paratungstate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1500 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 53.8 grams of ammonium paratungstate in the process noted above; 250 grams of deionized water was added to

the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 950 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 24.8 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 255.6 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1135.2 grams of predoped iron oxide; 81.4 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example 14: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Tungsten (VI) Oxide:

An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1500 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide with 47.9 grams of tungsten oxide in the process noted above; 250 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 950 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 24.8 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 255.6 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1135.2 grams of predoped iron oxide; 81.4 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example C (Comparative) : Catalyst Prepared with Synthetic Red Iron Oxide: A catalyst was prepared by adding 18.5 grams of calcium carbonate, 119.8 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.6 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, and 245.6 grams of potassium carbonate, to 1103.2 grams of random spheroidal synthetic red iron oxide; 157.2 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step.

Example 15: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Molybdenum (VI) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200 grams of random spheroidal synthetic red iron oxide with 47.7 grams of molybdenum trioxide according the

process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 825 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 17.7 grams of calcium carbonate, 115.7 grams of cerium (III) carbonate,

242.5 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1086.4 grams of predoped iron oxide; 94.8 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example D (Comparative) : Catalyst Prepared with

Synthetic Red Iron Oxide: A catalyst was prepared by adding 20.3 grams of calcium carbonate, 103.1 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 32.3 grams of ammonium paratungstate, and 200.9 grams of potassium carbonate, to 900.0 grams of random spheroidal synthetic red iron oxide; 124.6 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step. Example 16: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Magnesium (II) Nitrate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200 grams of random spheroidal synthetic red iron oxide with 69.4 grams of magnesium nitrate dissolved in 100 grams of deionized water, over 15 minutes, while mulling (mixing) . The mixture was placed in ceramic dishes and then was loaded into an electrically heated muffle furnace at 170C and dried for 30 minutes. The furnace temperature was then ramped, at 6 °C/min. from 170 to 950 °C, and was maintained at 950 °C for one hour. Air flow through the furnace was maintained at 40 scf/hr throughout the calcination. Thereafter, the furnace was turned off and the iron oxide powder, treated as above, was allowed to cool to room temperature, in the furnace, over night.

Catalyst ingredients included 20.3 grams of calcium carbonate, 102.8 grams of cerium (III) carbonate,

32.1 grams of ammonium paratungstate, 200.8 grams of potassium carbonate, and 908.2 grams of predoped iron oxide; 80.2 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example 17: Red Iron Oxide Predoped with Potassium

Permanganate: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1200 grams of random spheroidal synthetic red iron oxide with 10.0 grams of potassium permanganate dissolved in 250 grams of deionized water, over 15 minutes, while mulling (mixing) . The mixture was screened through a standard No. 7 sieve to break up any lumps and then was placed in ceramic dishes and loaded into an electrically heated muffle furnace at 170 °C. The furnace temperature was then ramped at 6 °C/min. to 950 °C and was maintained at the set point temperature for one hour. Thereafter, the furnace was turned off and the iron oxide powder, treated as above, was allowed to cool to room temperature, in the furnace, over night. Catalyst ingredients included 22.5 grams of calcium carbonate, 114.5 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 35.8 grams of ammonium paratungstate, 232.4 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1000.0 grams of predoped iron oxide; 118.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example E (Comparative) : Catalyst Prepared with Synthetic Yellow Iron Oxide: A catalyst was prepared by adding 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.8 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, and 255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, to 1290.9 grams of branched acicular synthetic yellow iron oxide; 214.2 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step.

Example 18: Yellow Iron Oxide Predoped with Molybdenum (VI) Oxide: An iron oxide composition was prepared by predoping 1408.3 grams of branched acicular synthetic yellow iron oxide with 47.6 grams of molybdenum oxide in the process noted above; 220 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step and the mixture was ultimately heated to 800 °C.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 126.0 grams of cerium (III) carbonate,

255.3 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1143.6 grams of predoped iron oxide; 91.7 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation. Example F (Comparative): Synthetic Red Iron Oxide.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.5 grams of calcium carbonate, 119.8 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.6 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 245.6 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1103.6 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide; 157.2 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Example Fl (Comparative) : Heated Synthetic Red Iron Oxide. An iron oxide composition was prepared by heating

1400 grams of branched acicular synthetic red iron oxide. The iron oxide was placed in stainless steel dishes and loaded into an electrically heated muffle furnace at 600C. Air flow through the furnace was maintained at 40 scf/hr throughout the calcination. The furnace temperature was ramped at 6 °C/min. to 900 °C, and was maintained at that set point temperature for one hour. Thereafter, the furnace was turned off and the iron oxide powder, treated as above, was allowed to cool to room temperature, over night.

Catalyst ingredients included 18.6 grams of calcium carbonate, 119.8 grams of cerium (III) carbonate, 25.6 grams of ammonium dimolybdate, 245.6 grams of potassium carbonate, and 1100.0 grams of heated iron oxide; 125.0 grams of deionized water was added to the mixture during the mixing step of catalyst preparation.

Table 1

Catalyst Physical Properties and Performance Results

Example Catalyst

Median Catalyst

Pore Pore T70 S70

Diameter, Volume,

Angstroms cm ³ /g

Comp.Ex.A 2,743 0.1941 595 94.4

1-A 2,281 0.1271 596 95.0

1-B 6, 654 0.0979 596 96.0

1-C 9,524 0.0707 600 96.4

1-D 14,816 0.1024 609 96.4

2-A 6,255 0.1324 596 95.7

2-B 5,459 0.145 598 95.3

2-C 4,898 0.1348 595 95.0

2-D 5,679 0.1421 594 94.0

3 3,830 0.112 590 96.0

4 4,871 0.1471 598 95.6

5 4,334 0.1482 602 95.1

6 4,403 0.1243 597 95.3

7 2,929 0.1587 611 95.3

8 4,915 0.1335 599 95.2

9 7,158 0.1256 602 95.7

10 2,351 0.1229 601 94.9

11 5,057 0.1408 598 95.6

12 4,698 0.1462 594 95.3

Comp.Ex.B 2,519 0.1688 603 95.0

13 5,111 0.0895 606 95.9

14 4,229 0.0931 605 95.8

Table 1

Catalyst Physical Properties and Performance Results

Example Catalyst

Median Catalyst

Pore Pore ?70 S70

Diameter, Volume,

Angstroms cm-' / q

Comp.Ex.C 3, 625 0.1679 594 95.7

15 6, 994 0.1153 597 96.4

Comp.Ex.D 3, 164 0.1704 599 95.5

16 5,079 0.1561 600 95.8

17 5,020 0.1476 599 95.9

Comp.Ex.E 1,440 0.1644 591 93.3

18 3, 630 0.1068 599 96.0

Comp.Ex. F 2,720 0.160 593 95.4

Comp.Ex. Fl 3, 696 0.1238 591 95.4

This data shows the improved catalyst selectivity attained by predoping the iron oxide. Selectivity gains were attained with little or no corresponding loss in catalyst activity and corresponded to an increase in the catalyst median pore diameter and/or a decrease in catalyst pore volume. Comparative Examples F and Fl show that simply heating iron oxide before catalyst preparation does not result in increased catalyst selectivity.