A selective hydrogenation catalyst contains an active phase having a group VIB metal and a group VIII metal, and a porous support containing alumina. The group VIB metal content is between 1 and 18% by weight relative to total weight of the catalyst, and the group VIII metal content of the active phase, measured in oxide form, is between 1 and 20% by weight relative to total weight of the catalyst. The molar ratio between the group VIII metal and the group VIB metal is between 1.0 and 3.0 mol/mol. The group VIII metal is homogeneously distributed in the porous support with a distribution coefficient R of between 0.8 and 1.2, measured using a Castaing microprobe, and the group VIB metal is distributed at the periphery of the porous support with a distribution coefficient R of less than 0.8.

Zero-Rare Earth Metal (ZREM) and Zero-platinum group metals (ZPGM) compositions of varied binary spinel oxides are disclosed as oxygen storage material (OSM) to be used within TWC systems. The ZREM-ZPGM OSM systems comprise binary non-Cu spinel oxides of Co—Fe, Fe—Mn, Co—Mn, or Mn—Fe. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC) property associated with the non-Cu ZREM-ZPGM OSM systems is determined employing isothermal OSC oscillating condition testing. Further, the OSC test results compare the OSC properties of a ZREM-ZPGM reference OSM system including a Cu—Mn binary spinel oxide and PGM reference catalysts including Ce-based OSMs. The non-Cu spinel oxides ZREM-ZPGM OSM systems exhibit significantly improved OSC properties, which are greater than the OSC property of the Ce-based OSM PGM reference systems.

Synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) with ultra-low PGM loadings employed as close-coupled (CC) three-way catalysts (TWC) systems with varied material compositions and configurations are disclosed. SPGM CC catalysts in which ZPGM compositions of binary or ternary spinel structures supported onto support oxides are coupled with commercialized PGM UF catalysts and tested under Federal Test Procedure FTP-75 within TGDI and PI engines. The performance of the TWC systems including SPGM CC (with ultra-low PGM loadings) catalyst and commercialized PGM UF catalyst is compared to the performance of commercialized PGM CC and PGM UF catalysts. The disclosed TWC systems indicate that SPGM CC TWC catalytic performance is comparable or even exceeds high PGM-based conventional TWC catalysts, with reduced tailpipe emissions.

Synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) with ultra-low PGM loadings employed as underfloor (UF) three-way catalyst (TWC) systems with varied material compositions and configurations are disclosed. SPGM UF catalysts in which ZPGM compositions of binary and ternary spinel structures supported onto support oxides are coupled with commercialized PGM close-coupled (CC) catalysts and tested under Federal Test Procedure FTP-75 within TGDI and PI engines. The performance of the TWC systems including commercialized PGM CC and SPGM UF (with ultra-low PGM loadings) catalysts is compared to the performance of commercialized PGM CC and PGM UF catalysts. The disclosed TWC systems indicate that SPGM UF TWC catalytic performance is comparable or even exceeds high PGM-based conventional TWC catalysts, with reduced tailpipe emissions.

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, the exhaust system comprising, a lean NO.sub.x trap (LNT), a wall flow monolithic substrate having a NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone thereon, the wall flow monolithic substrate having a pre-coated porosity of 40% or greater, the NO.sub.x storage and reduction zone comprising a platinum group metal loaded on a first support, the first support comprising one or more alkaline earth metal compounds, a mixed magnesium/aluminium oxide, cerium oxide, and at least one base metal oxide selected the group consisting of copper oxide, manganese oxide, iron oxide and zinc oxide.

Preparation of a catalyst that comprises an active phase of at least one metal of group VIM that is deposited on an oxide substrate, a) An oxide substrate that comprises alumina, silica, or a silica-alumina is provided; b) The oxide substrate of step a) is impregnated by an aqueous or organic solution that comprises at least one metal salt of group VIM that is selected from among cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, and iron, and then the product that is obtained is dried at a temperature of between 60 and 200° C.;

A treatment under water vapor of the solid that is obtained in step b) is carried out at a temperature of between 110 and 195° C. for a length of time of between 30 minutes and 4 hours, in the presence of an air/vapor mixture that comprises between 2 and 50% by volume of water in vapor form.

A paste for manufacturing a photocatalyst is provided. The paste for manufacturing the photocatalyst includes an alcohol paste and a photocatalyst precursor. The photocatalyst precursor is dispersed in the alcohol paste, and the photocatalyst precursor includes a first metal precursor and a second metal precursor, wherein the first metal in the first metal precursor includes Zn, Sn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co or Ag, and the second metal in the second metal precursor includes Fe.

An active material useful in an oxidative dehydrogenation reactor system has an active phase, and a mixed metal oxide support phase. The active phase includes a transition metal oxide such as manganese oxide, which is reversibly oxidizable and/or reducible between oxidized and reduced states. The support phase includes a mixed metal oxide of a two or more IUPAC Group 2-14 elements. The active phase can also include a promoter such as Na-WO4 and/or a selectivity modifier such as Al or ceria. Also, a reactor including the active material in a reactor, a method of making the active material, and a method of using the active material in a regenerative reaction process.

The present invention relates to a copper aluminium oxide catalyst for preparing a furfuryl alcohol from a furfural, comprising a copper-alumina spinel structure and having surface area in the range from 0.5 to 5 m.sup.2/g; wherein said catalyst is prepared from a process comprising the following steps: (i) dissolving copper salt and aluminium salt in a solvent; (ii) adding organic acid into mixture obtained from step (i); (iii) heating mixture obtained from step (ii) at the temperature higher than 150° C. until said mixture is combusted into solid; and (iv) calcining the solid obtained from step (iii) at the temperature in the range from 700 to 1,000° C. The catalyst according to the invention gives a high conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and high furfuryl alcohol yield.

The invention provides a method for the production of a supported nickel catalyst, in which an aqueous mixture comprising an alkali metal salt plus other metal salts is sintered to form a support material. A supported nickel catalyst comprising potassium β-alumina is also provided.