The present invention relates to processes for producing metal foam bodies, in which metal-containing powders that may comprise aluminium and chromium or molybdenum are applied to metal foam bodies that may comprise nickel, cobalt, copper and iron and then treated thermally, wherein the highest temperature in the thermal treatment of the metal foam bodies is in the range from 680 to 715° C., and wherein the total duration of the thermal treatment within the temperature range from 680 to 715° C. is between 5 and 240 seconds. Following this method of thermal treatment can achieve alloy formation at the contact surface between metal foam body and metal-containing powder, but simultaneously leave unalloyed regions within the metal foam. The present invention further comprises processes comprising the treatment of the alloyed metal foam bodies with basic solution. The present invention further comprises the metal foam bodies obtainable by these processes, which find use, for example, as support and structure components and in catalyst technology.

A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 μm, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm.sup.−3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

A method for preparing a multi-component alloy catalyst on which a catalytic metal is supported includes preparing a carbon composite having a carbon support coated with a cationic polymer, supporting a catalytic metal containing at least two metal elements on the carbon composite to prepare an alloy catalyst precursor, and washing the alloy catalyst precursor to remove the cationic polymer.

A method for preparing a dicyanoalkane may omit a filtration for a catalyst after a cyanation reaction can by carrying out the cyanation reaction in a state in which precipitation of a metal catalyst is suppressed. A method for preparing a dicyanoalkane may involve cyanating one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and/or salt(s) thereof with an ammonia source in the presence of a predetermined compound and a catalyst, wherein, in the cyanation, the amount of the predetermined compound is maintained at a predetermined amount or more with respect to the catalyst.

A method for preparing a dicyanoalkane may omit a filtration for a catalyst after a cyanation reaction can by carrying out the cyanation reaction in a state in which precipitation of a metal catalyst is suppressed. A method for preparing a dicyanoalkane may involve cyanating one or more aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and/or salt(s) thereof with an ammonia source in the presence of a predetermined compound and a catalyst, wherein, in the cyanation, the amount of the predetermined compound is maintained at a predetermined amount or more with respect to the catalyst.

A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

A process is described for producing 1,3-butanediol, wherein an ester of poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate such as formed by transesterification with an alcohol is reduced by hydrogenation in the presence of a skeletal copper-based catalyst to provide 1,3-butanediol. The 1,3-butanediol may be transesterified by reaction with additional poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate ester to produce (R)-3-hydroxybutyl (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate.

A method for preparing a multi-component alloy catalyst on which a catalytic metal is supported includes preparing a carbon composite having a carbon support coated with a cationic polymer, supporting a catalytic metal containing at least two metal elements on the carbon composite to prepare an alloy catalyst precursor, and washing the alloy catalyst precursor to remove the cationic polymer.