The present invention relates to methods and catalysts for producing methylbenzyl alcohol from ethanol by catalytic conversion, and belongs to the field of chemical engineering and technology. The present invention develops a route of producing methylbenzyl alcohol starting from green and sustainable ethanol and provide corresponding catalysts used for the catalytic conversion route. This innovative reaction route has several advantages, such as, simple process, eco-friendly property, and easy separation of products, as compared with a traditional petroleum-based route. This present route has a reaction temperature of 150-450° C. and total selectivity of 72% for methylbenzyl alcohol, and has good industrial application prospect. The innovation of this patent comprises the catalysts synthesis and the reaction route.

The present invention relates to a catalyst which comprises a carrier substrate of length L, which extends between a first end face a and a second end face b, and catalytically active material zones A, B and C of different composition, wherein—material zone A comprises palladium or palladium and platinum with a weight ratio of Pd:Pt>1, and cerium oxide, —material zone B comprises platinum or platinum and palladium with a weight ratio of Pt:Pd>1, and cerium oxide and/or cerium/zirconium mixed oxide, and—material zone C comprises platinum or platinum and palladium with a weight ratio of Pt:Pd>1, and a carrier oxide, and wherein—material zone B is arranged above material zone A, and—material zone C is arranged above material zone B, and, starting from the second end face b of the carrier substrate, extends over a length of up to 60% of the length L. The invention also relates to a catalyst arrangement containing said catalyst.

The present invention relates to a catalyst which comprises a carrier substrate of length L, which extends between a first end face a and a second end face b, and catalytically active material zones A, B and C of different composition, wherein—material zone A comprises palladium or palladium and platinum with a weight ratio of Pd:Pt>1, and cerium oxide, —material zone B comprises platinum or platinum and palladium with a weight ratio of Pt:Pd>1, and cerium oxide and/or cerium/zirconium mixed oxide, and—material zone C comprises platinum or platinum and palladium with a weight ratio of Pt:Pd>1, and a carrier oxide, and wherein—material zone B is arranged above material zone A, and—material zone C is arranged above material zone B, and, starting from the second end face b of the carrier substrate, extends over a length of up to 60% of the length L. The invention also relates to a catalyst arrangement containing said catalyst.

A composite oxide including a metal element represented by the composition of general formula:

A.sub.nX.sub.y,

represents an element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, and a trivalent lanthanoid; X represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba; n is 0<n<1; y is 0<y<1; and n+y=1. Also, a metal-supported material in which cobalt particles are supported on the composite oxide.

A composite oxide including a metal element represented by the composition of general formula:

A.sub.nX.sub.y,

represents an element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, and a trivalent lanthanoid; X represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba; n is 0<n<1; y is 0<y<1; and n+y=1. Also, a metal-supported material in which cobalt particles are supported on the composite oxide.

A catalyst composition comprising MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and one or more further alkaline earth metal oxides, provides for outstanding catalytic production of propylene when employed together with a metathesis catalyst.

A catalyst composition comprising MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and one or more further alkaline earth metal oxides, provides for outstanding catalytic production of propylene when employed together with a metathesis catalyst.

Methods for steam reforming with a red mud catalyst support composition, one method including providing a methane feed and a steam feed to react over the red mud catalyst support composition at increased temperature and increased pressure to produce synthesis gas comprising H.sub.2 and CO, the composition comprising red mud material produced from an alumina extraction process from bauxite ore.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.

According to one or more embodiments described herein, a method for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons may include passing a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more alkanes or alkyl aromatics into a fluidized bed reactor, contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a dehydrogenation catalyst in the fluidized bed reactor to produce a dehydrogenated product and hydrogen, and contacting the hydrogen with an oxygen-rich oxygen carrier material in the fluidized bed reactor to combust the hydrogen and form an oxygen-diminished oxygen carrier material. In additional embodiments, a dual-purpose material may be utilized which has dehydrogenation catalyst and oxygen carrying functionality.