A process for biomass catalytic cracking is disclosed herein. More specifically, the process is in presence of is a mixed metal oxide catalyst represented by the formula (X.sub.1O).(X.sub.2O).sub.a.(X.sub.3Y.sub.bO.sub.4) wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are alkaline earth elements selected from the group of Mg, Ca, Be, Ba, and mixture thereof, and Y is a metal selected from the group of Al, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Ga, B, La, P and mixture thereof, wherein the catalyst is formed by calcining at least one compound comprising at least one alkaline earth element and a metal element.

A composite photocatalyst, a manufacturing method thereof, the kits including the composite photocatalyst, and a bactericide photocatalyst. A composite photocatalyst includes photocatalyst nanocrystals and platinum nanocrystals. The photocatalyst nanocrystals include a compound represented by the following chemical formula (1):

A.sup.2+(B.sup.3+).sub.2X.sub.4chemical formula (1), wherein A.sup.2+ represents Zn.sup.2+, Cu.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+ or Ag.sub.2.sup.2+; B.sup.3+ represents Fe.sup.3+, Mn.sup.3+ or Cr.sup.3+; and X represents O.sup.2.

Disclosed is a hydrocarbon gas reforming supported catalyst, and methods for its use, that includes a catalytic material capable of catalyzing the production of a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a hydrocarbon gas, and a support material comprising an alkaline earth metal/metal oxide compound having a structure of D-E, wherein D is a M.sub.1 or M.sub.1M.sub.2, M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 each individually being an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Ba, and Sr, E is a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2O.sub.4, SiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, and CeO.sub.2, wherein the catalytic material is attached to the support material.

Variations of ZPGM catalyst material compositions including doped CuMn spinel supported on doped zirconia support oxide are disclosed. The disclosed ZPGM catalyst compositions include a small substitution of Ni within the A-site or B-site cation of a CuMn spinel supported on doped zirconia support oxide, and produced by the incipient wetness (IW) methodology. Bulk powder ZPGM catalyst compositions are subjected to XRD analyses to determine the spinel phase formation and stability. Additionally, bulk powder ZPGM catalyst compositions are subjected to a steady-state isothermal sweep test to determine NO, CO, and THC conversion. The ZPGM catalyst material compositions including Ni-doped CuMn spinel supported on doped zirconia support oxide exhibit improved levels in NO and CO conversions, which can be employed in ZPGM catalysts for a plurality of TWC applications, thereby leading to a more effective utilization of ZPGM catalyst materials with high thermal and chemical stability in TWC products.

A NO.sub.x trap composition, and its use in an exhaust system for internal combustion engines, is disclosed. NO.sub.x trap composition comprises a platinum group metal, barium, cobalt, and a magnesia-alumina support. The NO.sub.x trap composition is less prone to storage deactivation and exhibits reduced N.sub.2O formation.

A method of manufacturing a catalyst material includes the steps of: providing a body having an open-porous foam structure and comprising at least a first metal or alloy; providing particles, each of which particles comprising at least a second metal or alloy; distributing the particles on the body; forming a structural connection between each of at least a subset of the particles and the body; and forming an oxide film on at least the subset of the particles and the body, wherein the oxide film has a catalytically active surface.

A method of photodegrading an organic compound may include irradiating, in the presence of the organic compound, a nanocomposite including graphitic C.sub.3N.sub.4, V.sub.2O.sub.5, and MgAl.sub.2O.sub.4 in a mass relationship to each other in a range of from 5 to 15:2 to 7:75 to 95, at a temperature in a range of from 10 C. to 80 C. in a contaminated volume of water, thereby photodegrading the organic compound to partially decompose the organic compound and at least partially decontaminate the contaminated volume of water.

A method of hydrogen generation includes contacting sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) and water in the presence of a nanocomposite comprising graphitic C.sub.3N.sub.4, V.sub.2O.sub.5, and MgAl.sub.2O.sub.4 in a mass relationship to each other in a range of from 5 to 15:2 to 7:75 to 95, at a temperature in a range of from 10 to 80 C., thereby catalyzing the hydrogen generation at a hydrogen generation rate in a range of from 2000 to 5000 mL/(min.Math.g).

The invention relates to a process and plant for removing one or more impurities from a feedstock, said process comprising the step of contacting said feedstock with a guard bed comprising a porous material, thereby providing a purified feedstock; wherein the porous material comprises at least 80 wt % of magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl.sub.2O.sub.4), titania (TiO.sub.2), or a mixture thereof; and the porous material has a total pore volume of 0.50-0.90 ml/g, as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. The invention envisages also a process and plant in which the guard bed comprises a porous material which is at least 80 wt % SiO.sub.2.