The present invention relates to a catalyst for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons which is based on iron oxide and a process for producing it. The catalyst comprises at least one iron compound, at least one potassium compound and from 11 to 24% by weight of at least one cerium compound, calculated as CeO.sub.2, wherein the at least one iron compound and the at least one potassium compound are at least partly present in the form of one or more K/Fe mixed oxide phases of the general formula K.sub.xFe.sub.yO.sub.z, where x is from 1 to 17; y is from 1 to 22 and z is from 2 to 34, and comprises at least 50% by weight, based on the total catalyst, of the K/Fe mixed oxide phases, and also a process for producing it.

The present invention relates to a catalyst based on iron oxide for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons and also a process for producing it. The catalyst comprises at least one iron compound, at least one potassium compound and at least one cerium compound, wherein the at least one iron compound and the at least one potassium compound are at least partly present in the form of one or more K/Fe mixed oxide phases of the general formula K.sub.xFe.sub.yO.sub.z, where x is from 1 to 17; y is from 1 to 22 and z is from 2 to 34, where the catalyst comprises at least 20% by weight, based on the total catalyst, of the K/Fe mixed oxide phases and comprises crystalline cerium dioxide having a crystallite size in the range from 10 nm to 30 nm.

The invention relates to a method for converting a gas into methane (CH.sub.4) which includes: a step of activating a catalytic material including praseodymium oxide (Pr.sub.6O.sub.11) associated with nickel oxide (NiO) and alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), the respective proportions of which are, relative to the total mass of these three compounds: Pr.sub.6O.sub.11: 1 wt % to 20 wt %, NiO: 1 wt % to 20 wt %, and Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 60 to 98 wt %; and a step of passing a gas including at least one carbon monoxide (CO) over the activated catalytic material.

A metal/support catalyst for conversion of carbon dioxide to methane contains a metal including a transition metal and a support containing a perovskite-type oxide, on which the metal is supported. The metal/support catalyst for conversion of carbon dioxide to methane is capable of increasing the catalytic activity of the Sabatier reaction by promoting the formation of hydroxide ions and helping the production of formate, which is a reaction intermediate in the conversion of carbon dioxide to methane, without using a precious metal. In addition, it is capable of conducting the reaction stably for a long period of time.

This invention is directed to novel mixed transition metal iron (II/III) catalysts for the extraction of oxygen from CO.sub.2 and the selective reaction with organic compounds.

Perovskite compounds that catalyze hydrogenolysis (e.g., hydrodeoxygenation, hydrodenitrogenation, and/or hydrodesulfurization) of heteroatom-containing compounds, as well as associated systems and methods, are generally described. In some embodiments, methods are provided for contacting a perovskite compound with a heteroatom-containing compound (e.g., a compound comprising oxygen, nitrogen, and/or sulfur) in the presence of hydrogen gas (H.sub.2) such that the perovskite compound catalyzes hydrogenolysis of the heteratom-containing compound to produce one or more hydrocarbon products (e.g., one or more aromatic hydrocarbons and/or aliphatic hydrocarbons). According to certain embodiments, the perovskite compound has the formula A.sub.1xB.sub.xDO.sub.3, where A comprises a lanthanide, B comprises an alkaline earth metal, D comprises a transition metal, and x is greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 1. Compounds, systems, and methods described herein may be useful for applications involving petroleum (e.g., crude oil) and/or biofuels.

A catalyst which is highly active in dehydrogenation reaction of an alkylaromatic hydrocarbon not only in high-temperature regions (e.g. 600 to 650 C.) as found in the inlet of a catalyst bed in an apparatus for the production of SM but also in low-temperature regions (e.g. under 600 C.) as found in the outlet of a catalyst bed in an apparatus for the production of SM, where the temperature decreases as a result of endothermic reaction; and a process for producing the catalyst; and a dehydrogenation process using the catalyst.

The catalyst contains iron (Fe), potassium (K), and cerium (Ce), and at least one rare earth element other than cerium.

A porous catalyst useful in the conversion of carbon dioxide to one or more hydrocarbons, the porous catalyst containing: (i) a bimetallic oxide portion containing at least one of iron oxide and nickel oxide or carbide in combination with at least one oxide, hydroxide, and/or carbide of at least one of manganese, cobalt, copper, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, hafnium, zinc, and lanthanides; and (ii) an alkali metal oxide, hydroxide, or carbonate portion in contact with the bimetallic oxide portion; wherein the porous catalyst contains pores in the bimetallic oxide portion. A method of using the porous catalyst to convert carbon dioxide to hydrocarbons, particularly olefins, containing at least four carbon atoms, is also described.

A reactor system for dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene in a given temperature range T upon bringing a reactant stream including ethylbenzene into contact with a catalytic mixture. The reactor system includes a reactor unit arranged to accommodate the catalytic mixture, the catalytic mixture including catalyst particles in intimate contact with a ferromagnetic material, where the catalyst particles are arranged to catalyze the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. The reactor system moreover includes an induction coil arranged to be powered by a power source supplying alternating current and being positioned so as to generate an alternating magnetic field within the reactor unit upon energization by the power source, whereby the catalytic mixture is heated to a temperature within the temperature range T by means of the alternating magnetic field. Also, a catalytic mixture and a method of dehydrogenating ethylbenzene to styrene.

A fuel synthesis catalyst of an embodiment for hydrogenating a gas includes at least one selected from the group consisting of; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, the catalyst comprising, an oxide base material containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of; Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2, first metal particles containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of; Ni, Co, Fe, and Cu and brought into contact with the oxide base material, and a porous oxide layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of; CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, and SiO.sub.2 and having an interface with each of the first metal particles and the oxide base material.