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.

There is disclosed a process for producing taurine by reacting 2-oxazolidinone with ammonium sulfite, or ammonium bisulfite, or a mixture of ammonium sulfite and ammonium bisulfite in an aqueous solution to form ammonium taurinate and ammonium bicarbonate. Taurine is obtained by decomposing ammonium taurinate to taurine and ammonia and recovered by solid-liquid separation.

A chromia-based fluorination catalyst comprising at least one additional metal selected from zinc, nickel, aluminum and magnesium in which from 0.1 to 8.0% by weight of the catalyst is in the form of one or more crystalline compounds of chromium and/or one or more crystalline compounds of the at least one additional metal. The catalyst can be used in processes for producing a fluorinated hydrocarbon.

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.

Provided is a catalyst for an oxygen reduction reaction, including an alloy in which two metals are mixed, in which the corresponding alloy is an alloy of iridium (Ir); and silicon (Si), phosphorus (P), germanium (Ge), or arsenic (As). The corresponding catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction may have excellent price competitiveness while exhibiting a catalytic activity which is equal to or similar to that of an existing Pt catalyst. Accordingly, when the catalyst is used, the amount of platinum catalyst having low price competitiveness may be reduced, so that a production unit cost of a system to which the corresponding catalyst is applied may be lowered.

Process for preparing isophoronediamine, characterized in that A) isophoronenitrile is subjected directly in one stage to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine in the presence of ammonia, hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst and possibly further additions, and in the presence or absence of organic solvents; or B) isophoronenitrile is first converted fully or partly in at least two or more than two stages to isophoronenitrile imine, and this isophoronenitrile imine is subjected to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine as a pure substance or in a mixture with other components and/or isophoronenitrile, in the presence of at least ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst.

Process for preparing isophoronediamine, characterized in that A) isophoronenitrile is subjected directly in one stage to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine in the presence of ammonia, hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst and possibly further additions, and in the presence or absence of organic solvents; or B) isophoronenitrile is first converted fully or partly in at least two or more than two stages to isophoronenitrile imine, and this isophoronenitrile imine is subjected to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine as a pure substance or in a mixture with other components and/or isophoronenitrile, in the presence of at least ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst.

A sponge cobalt catalyst composition contains water, an oxoacid, and a sponge cobalt catalyst. The oxoacid contains W or Mo, and part or all of the oxoacid is adsorbed to the sponge cobalt catalyst.

A sponge cobalt catalyst composition contains water, an oxoacid, and a sponge cobalt catalyst. The oxoacid contains W or Mo, and part or all of the oxoacid is adsorbed to the sponge cobalt catalyst.