The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst may include copper.

The present invention relates to a process for making 1,4-butanediol. The process may include reacting a solution comprising 1,4-butynediol with hydrogen in a presence of an effective amount of a catalyst. The catalyst may include copper.

Systems for the catalytic activation and/or dehydrogenation of a paraffin feed stream that is enriched in C5 alkanes to produce olefins that are then hydrated in the presence of water to produce C5 alcohols. Optionally, paraffin isomers are separated and the n-paraffins isomerized prior to catalytic activation and/or dehydrogenation.

Electric-powered, closed-loop, continuous-feed, endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a shaftless auger. In another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a drag conveyor. In yet another embodiment, the presently disclosed energy-conversion system includes a distillation and/or fractionating stage. The endothermic energy-conversion systems and methods feature mechanisms for natural resource recovery, refining, and recycling, such as secondary recovery of metals, minerals, nutrients, and/or carbon char.

There is provided a photocatalytic reactor arranged to receive one or more airborne contaminants. The photocatalytic reactor includes a photo-catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of one or more of the contaminants disposed on a substrate, and a light-emitting diode circuit board comprising a circuit board with one or more first light-emitting diodes mounted to a first side of the circuit board and one or more second light-emitting diodes mounted to a second side of the circuit board. The substrate is arranged to be illuminated by both the one or more first light-emitting diodes and the one or more second light-emitting diodes in order to facilitate photocatalytic degradation.

Methods and systems for converting methane to syngas are provided. Certain exemplary methods and systems involve reacting methane and carbon dioxide with a nickel oxide catalyst in a reaction chamber, thereby providing syngas and a reduced nickel species. The reduced nickel species can be regenerated by oxidation with air in a regeneration chamber, thereby generating a regenerated nickel oxide and heat. The regenerated nickel oxide and heat can be returned to the reaction chamber to drive the syngas reaction.

Methods and systems for converting methane to syngas are provided. Certain exemplary methods and systems involve reacting methane and carbon dioxide with a nickel oxide catalyst in a reaction chamber, thereby providing syngas and a reduced nickel species. The reduced nickel species can be regenerated by oxidation with air in a regeneration chamber, thereby generating a regenerated nickel oxide and heat. The regenerated nickel oxide and heat can be returned to the reaction chamber to drive the syngas reaction.

This disclosure features a urea conversion catalyst located within a urea decomposition reactor (e.g., a urea decomposition pipe) of a diesel exhaust aftertreatment system. The urea conversion catalyst includes a refractory metal oxide and a cationic dopant. The urea conversion catalyst can decrease the temperature at which urea converts to ammonia, can increase the urea conversion yield, and can decrease the likelihood of incomplete urea conversion.

This disclosure features a urea conversion catalyst located within a urea decomposition reactor (e.g., a urea decomposition pipe) of a diesel exhaust aftertreatment system. The urea conversion catalyst includes a refractory metal oxide and a cationic dopant. The urea conversion catalyst can decrease the temperature at which urea converts to ammonia, can increase the urea conversion yield, and can decrease the likelihood of incomplete urea conversion.

A catalytic bed for a chemical reactor, said catalytic bed having an annular-cylindrical geometry and comprising at least one collector made with a gas-permeable cylindrical wall, containing at least a first catalyst and a second catalyst, wherein the second catalyst has a finer particle size than the first catalyst, and wherein the first catalyst forms a layer of catalyst adjacent to and in contact with said collector.