The present invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising cobalt molybdenum and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals on a carbon support wherein said cobalt and molybdenum are in their metallic form. It was surprisingly found that the selectivity for alcohols can be increased by using the carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst as described herein in a process for producing alcohols from a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Furthermore, it was found that the catalyst of the present invention has a decreased selectivity for CO.sub.2 and can be operated at relatively low temperature when compared to conventional catalysts. Moreover, a method for preparing the carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst composition and a process for producing alcohols using said carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst composition is provided.

The present invention relates to a catalyst composition comprising cobalt molybdenum and optionally one or more elements selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals on a carbon support wherein said cobalt and molybdenum are in their metallic form. It was surprisingly found that the selectivity for alcohols can be increased by using the carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst as described herein in a process for producing alcohols from a feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Furthermore, it was found that the catalyst of the present invention has a decreased selectivity for CO.sub.2 and can be operated at relatively low temperature when compared to conventional catalysts. Moreover, a method for preparing the carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst composition and a process for producing alcohols using said carbon supported cobalt molybdenum catalyst composition is provided.

Molybdenum sulphide containing catalysts are provided which have been produced using a microemulsion approach. The catalysts thereby produced have a unique morphology which directly translates into improved performance in the conversion of syngas to alcohol and in the selectivity of this reaction towards producing ethanol.

Molybdenum sulphide containing catalysts are provided which have been produced using a microemulsion approach. The catalysts thereby produced have a unique morphology which directly translates into improved performance in the conversion of syngas to alcohol and in the selectivity of this reaction towards producing ethanol.

Molybdenum sulphide containing catalysts are provided which have been produced using a microemulsion approach. The catalysts thereby produced have a unique morphology which directly translates into improved performance in the conversion of syngas to alcohol and in the selectivity of this reaction towards producing ethanol.

The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a catalyst for synthesizing dimethyl ether or methylacetate from synthetic gas that includes preparing a nanosheet ferrierite zeolite (FER), and co-precipitating the nanosheet ferrierite zeolite and a precursor of a CuZnAl-based oxide (CZA) to obtain a hybrid CZA/FER catalyst.

The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a catalyst for synthesizing dimethyl ether or methylacetate from synthetic gas that includes preparing a nanosheet ferrierite zeolite (FER), and co-precipitating the nanosheet ferrierite zeolite and a precursor of a CuZnAl-based oxide (CZA) to obtain a hybrid CZA/FER catalyst.

The invention provides a method comprising hydrogenating a ketone in the presence of (i) a base, (ii) hydrogen gas and (iii) a catalyst comprising a charged or neutral complex of formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein: Mn is a manganese atom or a manganese ion in oxidation state (I) to (VII); R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently optionally substituted C.sub.4-8monocyclic aryl or C.sub.3-7monocyclic heteroaryl moieties; -Fc- denotes a ferrocene (bis(.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl)iron) moiety covalently bonded via adjacent carbon atoms of one of the two cyclopentadienyl moieties, and which may be optionally further substituted, in either cyclopentadienyl ring; Z is an alkylene linker of the formula (CH.sub.2).sub.1-6 in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the alkylene may be independently substituted; N.sup.x is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heteroaryl moiety, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and N.sup.x is substituted one or more times with an electron donating group; and L.sup.1-L.sup.3 constitute one, two or three ligands, wherein, when the complex of formula (I) is charged, the catalyst comprises one or more additional counterions to balance the charge of the complex.

The invention provides a method comprising hydrogenating a ketone in the presence of (i) a base, (ii) hydrogen gas and (iii) a catalyst comprising a charged or neutral complex of formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein: Mn is a manganese atom or a manganese ion in oxidation state (I) to (VII); R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently optionally substituted C.sub.4-8monocyclic aryl or C.sub.3-7monocyclic heteroaryl moieties; -Fc- denotes a ferrocene (bis(.sup.5-cyclopentadienyl)iron) moiety covalently bonded via adjacent carbon atoms of one of the two cyclopentadienyl moieties, and which may be optionally further substituted, in either cyclopentadienyl ring; Z is an alkylene linker of the formula (CH.sub.2).sub.1-6 in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms of the alkylene may be independently substituted; N.sup.x is an optionally substituted nitrogen-containing heteroaryl moiety, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and N.sup.x is substituted one or more times with an electron donating group; and L.sup.1-L.sup.3 constitute one, two or three ligands, wherein, when the complex of formula (I) is charged, the catalyst comprises one or more additional counterions to balance the charge of the complex.

A catalyst support for manufacturing a mixture of alcohols from synthesis gas comprises a combination of nickel, molybdenum, at least one metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, ruthenium, chromium, gold, zirconium, and aluminum, and at least one of an alkali metal or alkaline earth series metal as a promoter. The catalyst may be used in a process for converting synthesis gas wherein the primary product is a mixture of ethanol (EtOH), propanol (PrOH), and butanol (BuOH), optionally in conjunction with higher alcohols.