A catalyst precursor suitable for the Fischer Tropsch reaction is described comprising cobalt oxide supported on a porous support wherein the porous support is a ceramic foam comprising a closed cell structure.

The present invention pertains to novel core-shell particles comprising a core of iron oxide and a shell of cobalt oxide, characterized in that they are spherical with a number average diameter, as measured by TEM, of between 1 and 20 nm. This invention is also directed to their uses in the manufacture of a catalyst, and to the method for preparing these particles, by precipitating cobalt oxide onto magnetite or hematite particles which are themselves precipitated from Fe(III) and optionally Fe(II) salts.

The present invention relates to a method for producing liquid or solid hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis which does not carry out a separate reduction pre-treatment for catalyst activation. The method for producing liquid or solid hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis according to the present invention comprises: a first step of applying an iron-based catalyst for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in which the number of iron atoms in the ferrihydrite phase fraction equals 10 to 100% and the number of iron atoms in the hematite phase fraction equals 0 to 90%, with respect to 100% of the number of the number of iron atoms, to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor; and a second step of activating the catalyst for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by a synthesis gas which is a reactant under the conditions of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and carrying out the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by means of the activated catalyst for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. As such, the present invention is capable of efficiently producing liquid or solid hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, even without a separate reduction pre-treatment.

A catalyst containing an active phase comprising at least one metal of group VIIIB selected from cobalt, nickel, ruthenium and iron deposited on a support containing silica, alumina and at least one simple spinel MAl2O4 or mixed spinel MxM(1?x)Al2O4) which is or is not partial, wherein M and M are separate metals selected from the group formed by magnesium, copper, cobalt, nickel, tin, zinc, lithium, calcium, caesium, sodium, potassium, iron and manganese, and wherein x is between 0 and 1, the values 0 and 1 being themselves excluded, characterised in that said active phase further comprises boron, the boron content being between 0.001% and 0.5% by weight with respect to the total weight of the catalyst, the value 0.5 being itself excluded.

Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO.sub.2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as a fuel for the combustion source. Optionally, a second portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of an anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO.sub.2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.

The invention relates to templated active material, including those deriving order from organic and/or inorganic templating agents. The invention also relates to methods for producing templated active material, and to active material produced by such methods, and the use of such templated active material for producing oxygenate.

A hydrocarbon generation system that combines a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) and a Fischer-Tropsch unit in a single microtubular reactor is described. This system can directly synthesize hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide and water. High temperature co-electrolysis of H.sub.2O and CO.sub.2 and low temperature Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) process are integrated in a single microtubular reactor by designation of a temperature gradient along the axial length of the microtubular reactor. The microtubular reactor can provide direct conversion of CO.sub.2 to hydrocarbons for use as feedstock or energy storage.

The invention relates to potassium-promoted, Fe.sup.2+(Fe.sup.3+yAl.sup.3+i-y)2.sup.o4 [0.3<.sub.y0.7] silica-containing extrudates, processes for the preparation of the extrudates with the aid of colloidal silica, and the use of the extrudates to catalyze processes for producing liquid hydrocarbons.

In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell assembly at increased power density. This can be accomplished in part by performing an effective amount of an endothermic reaction within the fuel cell stack in an integrated manner. This can allow for increased power density while still maintaining a desired temperature differential within the fuel cell assembly.

The invention relates to a catalyst, comprising a catalytic element disposed on a substrate, wherein said substrate has formula Ce.sub.1-xM.sub.xO.sub.2, wherein x is between about 0 and about 0.3, optionally between about 0.01 and about 0.3, and wherein M, if present, is a metallic element other than Ce, when used for catalysing a methanation reaction. There is also described use of the catalyst for catalysing a methanation reaction and a method for methanation of a feedstock including carbon monoxide and hydrogen, said method comprising contacting the feedstock with the catalyst.