A method of producing hydrogen gas comprising: hydrolyzing sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) with water at a temperature of from 20 to 75 C. in the presence of a nanocomposite catalyst. The method is characterized in that the ratio by weight of sodium borohydride to the nanocomposite catalyst is from 1:1 to 5:1. Further, the nanocomposite catalyst comprises graphite sheet particles on which are disposed nanorods of -MnO.sub.2 and nanoparticles of MgO.

M/M.sup.2+M.sup.4+ oxide catalysts have been developed for use in producing isobutanol in propanol-methanol, ethanol-methanol and propanol/ethanol mixture-methanol reactions. The catalysts can also be used in making n-butanol in ethanol-ethanol reactions. M may comprise one or more metals from Groups 3-12 of the Periodic Table. M.sup.2+ may comprise divalent magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, or combinations thereof. M.sup.4+ may comprise tetravalent silicon, titanium, zirconium, or combinations thereof. Catalysts, and methods of using the catalysts are described.

M/M.sup.2+M.sup.4+ oxide catalysts have been developed for use in producing isobutanol in propanol-methanol, ethanol-methanol and propanol/ethanol mixture-methanol reactions. The catalysts can also be used in making n-butanol in ethanol-ethanol reactions. M may comprise one or more metals from Groups 3-12 of the Periodic Table. M.sup.2+ may comprise divalent magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, or combinations thereof. M.sup.4+ may comprise tetravalent silicon, titanium, zirconium, or combinations thereof. Catalysts, and methods of using the catalysts are described.

Disclosed are a sphere-like super-macroporous mesoporous material, a polyolefin catalyst, and a preparation method therefor and an olefin polymerization process. The sphere-like super-macroporous mesoporous material has a two-dimensional hexagonal ordered pore channel structure. The mesoporous material has an average pore size of 10 nm to 15 nm, a specific surface area of 300 m.sup.2/g to 400 m.sup.2/g, and an average particle size of 1 m to 3 m, based on the total mass of the mesoporous material. The mass content of water in the mesoporous material is <1 ppm. The mass content of oxygen in the mesoporous material is <1 ppm. When a polyolefin catalyst prepared with the mesoporous material as a carrier is used for an olefin polymerization reaction, a polyolefin product with a narrow molecular weight distribution and a good melt index can be obtained.

Provided is an exhaust gas purification catalyst that suppresses phosphorus poisoning and improves long-term durability. The exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a phosphorus collection layer and a catalyst layer containing at least one precious metal element M.sup.p selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, and Rh, wherein the phosphorus collection layer is arranged on the upper layer side and/or the upstream side with respect to the catalyst layer; the phosphorus collection layer contains a composite oxide containing Al and an alkaline earth metal element M.sup.a that includes Mg and that may include at least one selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, and Ba, and having a cubic spinel structure belonging to the space group Fd-3m; the composite oxide has a M.sup.a/Al molar ratio in a range of 0.02 or more and 0.60 or less; and the composite oxide has a peak derived from the cubic spinel structure belonging to the space group Fd-3m of the composite oxide between a diffraction angle 2x.sub.M.sup.a.sub.O that is a position of a peak derived from an alkaline earth metal oxide M.sup.aO and a diffraction angle 2x.sub.Al2O3 that is a position of a peak derived from an aluminum oxide Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in an X-ray diffraction spectrum.

The present invention relates to methods for producing coated metal bodies by applying a metal powder composition to a metal body, such that a coated metal body is obtained, the coating of which contains one or more wax components; heating the coated metal body to the melting temperature of at least one of the wax components and subsequent cooling to room temperature, such that a coated metal body is obtained; and thermally treating the coated metal body in order to achieve alloy formation between metal portions of metal body and metal powder composition, wherein the metal body comprises nickel, cobalt, copper and/or iron and the metal powder composition comprises a metal component in powder form, which contains aluminium, silicon or magnesium in elemental or alloyed form. By melting and cooling the wax, the method makes metal bodies having a more uniform alloy coverage accessible. The invention furthermore relates to methods wherein the metal body is subsequently treated with a basic solution. The present invention additionally comprises the metal bodies obtainable by the method according to the invention, which find application as load-bearing and structural components, for example, and in catalyst converter technology.

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.

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.

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.