A process can produce alcohols having at least two carbon atoms by catalytic conversion of synthesis gas into a mixture containing alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols. Alkenes are converted into corresponding alcohols in a subsequent step by hydration of the alkanes. Before the hydration and after the catalytic conversion, gas and liquid phases may be separated. Specific catalysts can be employed that have a markedly higher selectivity for alkenes than for alkanes. These catalysts comprise grains of non-graphitic carbon having cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein. The cobalt nanoparticles have an average diameter d.sub.p from 1 to 20 nm, and an average distance D between nanoparticles is from 2 to 150 nm. The combined total mass fraction of metal ω in the grains ranges from 30% to 70% by weight of the total mass of the grains of non-graphitic carbon, wherein 4.5 dp/ω>D≥0.25 dp/ω.

A process for the preparation of a composition comprising oxygenates and hydrocarbons by means of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, said process comprising contacting a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide gases with a supported Co—Mn Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, wherein the supported synthesis catalyst comprises at least 2.5 wt % of manganese, on an elemental basis, based on the total weight of the supported synthesis catalyst; the weight ratio of manganese to cobalt, on an elemental basis, is 0.2 or greater; and, wherein carbon dioxide is present in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction is at least 5% v/v.

Disclosed are heterostructured silica catalysts (modified Haider heterostructured silica) and methods of their use and preparation. The heterostructured silica catalysts include a transition metal, an alkaline earth metal oxide, and silica, wherein the transition metal, the alkaline earth metal from the metal oxide thereof, and silicon (Si) from silica are each present in the crystal lattice structure of the catalyst. The catalyst can have application in, e.g., the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.

Disclosed herein is a method of producing a product comprising C2-C5 hydrocarbons and C6-C18 hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: a) converting synthesis gas to the product comprising C2-C5 hydrocarbons and C6-C18 hydrocarbons in a first reactor; b) removing the product comprising C2-C5 hydrocarbons and C6-C18 hydrocarbons from the first reactor; c) reintroducing the C6-C18 hydrocarbons into the first reactor and/or introducing the C6-C18 hydrocarbons into a cooling jacket of the first reactor; and d) performing an exothermic reaction in the first reactor, thereby transferring heat from the exothermic reaction to the C6-C18 hydrocarbons, thereby storing heat in the C6-C18 hydrocarbons.

Process for preparing a catalyst containing an active phase based on a group VIII metal and a porous support, comprising the following steps: bringing said support into contact with an organic compound comprising at least oxygen and/or nitrogen; bringing the porous support into contact with a solution containing a precursor of the active phase comprising a group VIII metal; drying the catalyst precursor at a temperature of less than 200° C. so as to obtain a dried catalyst precursor; calcining the dried catalyst precursor at a temperature of between 200° C. and 1100° C. under a stream of inert gas and/or of oxidizing gas, it being understood that the velocity of said gas stream, defined as the mass flow rate of said gas stream per volume of catalyst per hour, is greater than 1 litre per gram of catalyst and per hour.

The invention relates to a method for preparing a hydrogenation catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising a catalytically active material and a carrier material. The method involves the mixing of an acidic solution comprising metal ions of a metal selected from the IUPAC group 8, 9 or 10 metals, preferably cobalt, a suspension comprising the carrier material and an alkaline solution. The invention also relates to a precursor of a hydrogenation catalyst wherein the precursor comprises crystallites of metal oxides having an average size of max. 8 nm.

The present application relates to a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst body having an open-celled foam structure, said catalyst body comprising a substrate material and a catalytic active material or precursor thereof wherein:—The substrate material: ⋅ is a metal alloy or ceramic material; ⋅ having a surface roughness of 50 μm or more; ⋅ has an open-celled foam structure with at least 15 pores per inch; and—The catalytically active material or precursor thereof which: ⋅ is present on the surface of the substrate material; ⋅ comprises cobalt, iron, ruthenium or a combination thereof; and ⋅ comprises a catalyst support selected from titania, alumina or silica.

The present invention relates to catalysts, more particularly to a cobalt-containing catalyst composition. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process wherein such a catalyst is used. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cobalt-containing catalyst composition comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound supported on and/or in a silica (SiO.sub.2) catalyst support wherein the average pore diameter of the catalyst support is more than 20 nm but less than 50 nm; the catalyst composition also including a titanium compound on and/or in the catalyst support, and a manganese compound on and/or in the catalyst support.

A cobalt catalyst precursor is described comprising cobalt oxide crystallites disposed within pores of a titania support, wherein the cobalt oxide crystallites have an average size as determined by XRD in the range 6 to 18 nm, and the titania support is a spherical titania support with a particle size in the range 100 to 1000 μm, wherein the catalyst precursor has a pore volume of 0.2 to 0.6 cm.sup.3/g and an average pore diameter in the range 30 to 60 nm, and wherein the catalyst precursor has a ratio of the average cobalt oxide crystallite size to the average pore diameter in the range 0.1:1 to 0.6:1. The catalyst precursor may be reduced to provide catalysts suitable for use in Fisher-Tropsch reactions.

The present disclosures and inventions relate to a catalyst composition for the selective conversion of a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture (syngas) to C2+ hydrocarbons. The composition includes a catalyst having the formula CoMn.sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z, wherein the molar ratio of x is from about 0.8 to about 1.2; wherein the molar ratio of y is from about 0.1 to about 1.0; and wherein the molar ratio of z is a number determined by the valence requirements of Co, Mn, and Si wherein the catalyst has a Scherrer crystallite size of less than about 40 nm, wherein the Si is silica.