A novel process can be used for producing methacrylates such as methacrylic acid and/or alkyl methacrylates, in particular MMA. The process leads to an increased yield and increased efficiency compared to other C4-based production processes, in particular processes starting from isobutylene or tert-butanol as raw material. The process can be operated for longer periods without disruption and with the same or even increased activities and selectivities. The process can also be executed in a manner that is as simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly as possible.

A novel process can be used for producing methacrylates such as methacrylic acid and/or alkyl methacrylates, in particular MMA. The process leads to an increased yield and increased efficiency compared to other C4-based production processes, in particular processes starting from isobutylene or tert-butanol as raw material. The process can be operated for longer periods without disruption and with the same or even increased activities and selectivities. The process can also be executed in a manner that is as simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly as possible.

It is an object to provide a catalyst that can effectively purify exhaust gas, in particular, carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gas, emitted from a diesel engine, a production method therefor, and an exhaust gas purification method using the same. A diesel engine exhaust gas purification catalyst for purifying exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine of the present invention comprises a precious metal and alumina and/or zeolite supported on a three-dimensional structure, and has peaks for not less than three different pore sizes in a pore size distribution measured by the mercury intrusion method, wherein one of the peaks is a peak 2 at a pore size of not less than 0.3 μm and less than 1.0 μm, and the pore volume of the peak 2 being greater than 3.1% of the total pore volume.

It is an object to provide a catalyst that can effectively purify exhaust gas, in particular, carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gas, emitted from a diesel engine, a production method therefor, and an exhaust gas purification method using the same. A diesel engine exhaust gas purification catalyst for purifying exhaust gas emitted from a diesel engine of the present invention comprises a precious metal and alumina and/or zeolite supported on a three-dimensional structure, and has peaks for not less than three different pore sizes in a pore size distribution measured by the mercury intrusion method, wherein one of the peaks is a peak 2 at a pore size of not less than 0.3 μm and less than 1.0 μm, and the pore volume of the peak 2 being greater than 3.1% of the total pore volume.

A new method can be used for producing suitable improved carrier materials as a base material for catalysts for carrying out a direct oxidative esterification. In general, the catalyst is used to convert aldehydes with alcohols in the presence of oxygenic gases directly to the corresponding ester, for example, where (meth)acrolein can be converted to methyl(meth)acrylate. The catalysts used are characterized in particular by high mechanical and chemical stability as well as by good catalytic performance even over very long periods of time. This applies in particular to an improvement of catalyst service life, activity and selectivity in comparison to other catalysts.

Ceramic compositions with catalytic activity are provided, along with methods for using such catalytic ceramic compositions. The ceramic compositions correspond to compositions that can acquire increased catalytic activity by cyclic exposure of the ceramic composition to reducing and oxidizing environments at a sufficiently elevated temperature. The ceramic compositions can be beneficial for use as catalysts in reaction environments involving swings of temperature and/or pressure conditions, such as a reverse flow reaction environment. Based on cyclic exposure to oxidizing and reducing conditions, the surface of the ceramic composition can be converted from a substantially fully oxidized state to various states including at least some dopant metal particles supported on a structural oxide surface.

A nanocomposite catalyst includes a support, a multiplicity of nanoscale metal oxide clusters coupled to the support, and one or more metal atoms coupled to each of the nanoscale metal oxide clusters. Fabricating a nanocomposite catalyst includes forming nanoscale metal oxide clusters including a first metal on a support, and depositing one or more metal atoms including a second metal on the nanoscale metal oxide clusters. The nanocomposite catalyst is suitable for catalyzing reactions such as CO oxidation, water-gas-shift, reforming of CO.sub.2 and methanol, and oxidation of natural gas.

Described are a catalyst capable of effectively oxidizing an exhaust gas, a method for preparing the catalyst, and a method for oxidizing an exhaust gas using the catalyst. The exhaust gas oxidation catalyst includes at least two layers, a lower catalyst layer and an upper catalyst layer, laminated on a three-dimensional structure, wherein the lower catalyst layer and the upper catalyst layer independently contain precious metal and alumina and/or zeolite, and at least a part of the upper catalyst layer contains pores derived from a pore connecting agent with a combustion decomposition temperature of 300° C. or more to less than 450° C.

Described are a catalyst capable of effectively oxidizing an exhaust gas, a method for preparing the catalyst, and a method for oxidizing an exhaust gas using the catalyst. The exhaust gas oxidation catalyst includes at least two layers, a lower catalyst layer and an upper catalyst layer, laminated on a three-dimensional structure, wherein the lower catalyst layer and the upper catalyst layer independently contain precious metal and alumina and/or zeolite, and at least a part of the upper catalyst layer contains pores derived from a pore connecting agent with a combustion decomposition temperature of 300° C. or more to less than 450° C.

The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a carrier substrate of the length L extending between substrate ends a and b and two washcoat zones A and B, wherein washcoat zone A comprises a first platinum group metal and extends starting from substrate end a over a part of the length L, and washcoat zone B comprises the same components as washcoat zone A and in addition a second platinum group metal and extends from substrate end b over a part of the length L, wherein L=L.sub.A+L.sub.B, wherein L.sub.A is the length of washcoat zone A and L.sub.B is the length of substrate length B.