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.

Disclosed is an improved method of making low-impurity 1,3-butylene glycol includes: (a) aldolizing acetaldehyde in a reactor to produce acetaldol; (b) hydrogenating the acetaldol in the presence of a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst in a hydrogenating reactor to produce a crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream with an active hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst content; (c) removing or deactivating catalyst in the crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream; and (d) distilling the treated crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream in a distillation train to provide a purified 1,3-butylene glycol product.

Disclosed is an improved method of making low-impurity 1,3-butylene glycol includes: (a) aldolizing acetaldehyde in a reactor to produce acetaldol; (b) hydrogenating the acetaldol in the presence of a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst in a hydrogenating reactor to produce a crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream with an active hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst content; (c) removing or deactivating catalyst in the crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream; and (d) distilling the treated crude 1,3-butylene glycol stream in a distillation train to provide a purified 1,3-butylene glycol product.

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and processes for producing Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. In particular, the disclosure provides for a process for producing a product composition comprising alcohols and liquid hydrocarbons via a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, the process comprising: contacting a mixture of hydrogen and a gaseous carbon oxide that is carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or a combination thereof and an olefin co-feed with a supported cobalt-manganese Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst to provide the product composition; wherein the olefin co-feed comprises at least one C.sub.2-C.sub.14 olefin and is present in an amount in the range of 0.001 wt % to 40 wt % relative to the total amount of hydrogen, the gaseous carbon oxide and olefin; wherein a weight ratio of manganese to cobalt in the catalyst is at least 0.05 on an elemental basis.

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and processes for producing Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. In particular, the disclosure provides for a process for producing a product composition comprising alcohols and liquid hydrocarbons via a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, the process comprising: contacting a mixture of hydrogen and a gaseous carbon oxide that is carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or a combination thereof and an olefin co-feed with a supported cobalt-manganese Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst to provide the product composition; wherein the olefin co-feed comprises at least one C.sub.2-C.sub.14 olefin and is present in an amount in the range of 0.001 wt % to 40 wt % relative to the total amount of hydrogen, the gaseous carbon oxide and olefin; wherein a weight ratio of manganese to cobalt in the catalyst is at least 0.05 on an elemental basis.

The present disclosure provides a 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak ratio of 2000 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 1.6 to 1.8, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0. The present disclosure also provides a 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak area ratio of 100 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 1.35 to 1.45, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0. The present disclosure also provides a 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak area ratio of 1000 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 2.3 to 2.4, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0.

The present invention discloses a dual functional photocatalytic device and a process for photocatalytic co-conversion of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O to value added products in direct sunlight. More particularly, the present invention relates to efficient and continuous process for the photocatalytic co-conversion of a mixture of CO.sub.2 and water into methanol, formaldehyde, in the presence of newly developed dual-functional photocatalyst device. The present invention is to provide dual-functional photocatalyst device, along with a co-catalyst and integrating them into a photocatalytic device using artificial leaf approach wherein said device is in the form of thin film working under wide spectrum of solar radiation at ambient conditions. Additionally it is easy to scale up the photocatalyst device size from 1 cm.sup.2 to 10 cm.sup.2 size and process is tuneable to generate desired products.

The present invention discloses a dual functional photocatalytic device and a process for photocatalytic co-conversion of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2O to value added products in direct sunlight. More particularly, the present invention relates to efficient and continuous process for the photocatalytic co-conversion of a mixture of CO.sub.2 and water into methanol, formaldehyde, in the presence of newly developed dual-functional photocatalyst device. The present invention is to provide dual-functional photocatalyst device, along with a co-catalyst and integrating them into a photocatalytic device using artificial leaf approach wherein said device is in the form of thin film working under wide spectrum of solar radiation at ambient conditions. Additionally it is easy to scale up the photocatalyst device size from 1 cm.sup.2 to 10 cm.sup.2 size and process is tuneable to generate desired products.