COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS RELATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF ACRYLONITRILE

1 . A catalyst composition for converting propylene glycol and glycerol to acrolein comprising a catalyst having the formula:

M1M2 x M3 y O z

wherein M1 is a metal promoting dehydrogenation and C—O cleavage,

wherein M2 is a metal with acid sites promoting dehydration,

wherein M3 is an amphoteric catalyst support, with acid and base sites, promoting both dehydration and dehydrogenation in conjunction with M1,

wherein x is a molar ratio from about 0.25 to about 4,

wherein y is a molar ratio from about 0.25 to about 4,

wherein z is the total amount of oxygen bound to M1, M2, and M3, and corresponds to the sum of the oxidation states of M1, M2, and M3.

2 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A method comprising the step of:

a. contacting a first product comprising ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol with the catalyst composition of claim 1 , thereby producing a second product comprising acrolein and acetaldehyde.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

b) separating at least a portion of the acetaldehyde from the second product; and

c) following step b) converting at least a portion of the acrolein in the second product to acrylonitrile.

13 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein from about 50 wt % to about 90 wt % of the propylene glycol and glycerol in the first product are converted to acrolein.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second product comprises from about 20 wt % to about 75 wt % of acrolein.

17 - 18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein step a) is performed at atmospheric pressure.

20 . A method comprising the step of:

a. in a single step, converting C5 and/or C6 sugars to a first product comprising ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol in the presence of a multifunctional catalyst.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the multifunctional catalyst comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Cu, Zn, Sn, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Re, and a support.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , Carbon, TiO 2 , and MgO.

23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of separating water from the first product.

24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of contacting the first product comprising ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol with the catalyst composition of claim 1 , thereby producing a second product comprising acrolein and acetaldehyde.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein method further comprises the steps of separating at least a portion of the acetaldehyde from the second product; and converting at least a portion of the acrolein in the second product to acrylonitrile.

26 - 28 . (canceled)

29 . A method comprising the step of:

a. contacting propylene glycol with a catalyst composition, thereby producing acrolein.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the catalyst composition is the catalyst composition of claim 1 .

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein M1 is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Zn, and Sn, wherein M2 is selected from the group consisting of W, Fe, P, and a zeolite, wherein M3 is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Al, Si, Mg, Ti, La, and Ce.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the catalyst has the formula CuOWO 3 ZrO 2 or CuOWO 3 TiO 2 or CuO/WO 3 /SiO 2 .

33 . The method of claim 29 , wherein step a) is performed at atmospheric pressure.

34 . The method of claim 29 , wherein from about 10 wt % to about 90 wt % of the propylene glycol is converted to acrolein.

35 . The method of claim 11 , wherein M1 is selected from the group consisting of Cu, Zn, and Sn, wherein M2 is selected from the group consisting of W, Fe, P, and a zeolite, and wherein M3 is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Al, Si, Mg, Ti, La, and Ce.

36 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the catalyst has the formula CuOWO 3 ZrO 2 or CuOWO 3 TiO 2 or CuOWO 3 SiO 2