A catalyst that includes heterogeneous metal carbide nanomaterials and a novel preparation method to synthesize the metal carbide nanomaterials under relatively mild conditions to form an encapsulated transition metal and/or transition metal carbide nanoclusters in a support and/or binder. The catalyst may include confined platinum carbide nanoclusters. The preparation may include the treatment of encapsulated platinum nanoclusters with ethane at elevated temperatures. The catalysts may be used for catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, which include but are not limited to, ethane aromatization, and for selective hydrogenation, with negligible green oil production.

A catalyst that includes heterogeneous metal carbide nanomaterials and a novel preparation method to synthesize the metal carbide nanomaterials under relatively mild conditions to form an encapsulated transition metal and/or transition metal carbide nanoclusters in a support and/or binder. The catalyst may include confined platinum carbide nanoclusters. The preparation may include the treatment of encapsulated platinum nanoclusters with ethane at elevated temperatures. The catalysts may be used for catalytic hydrocarbon conversions, which include but are not limited to, ethane aromatization, and for selective hydrogenation, with negligible green oil production.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula A.sub.xB.sub.y wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

This invention provides an anisotropic nanostructure represented by the formula:
Ru.sub.xM.sub.1-x,
wherein 0.6≤x≤0.999, and M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Pt, Pd, and Au, and wherein Ru and M form a solid solution at the atomic level, and the anisotropic nanostructure has an anisotropic hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp).

This invention provides an anisotropic nanostructure represented by the formula:
Ru.sub.xM.sub.1-x,
wherein 0.6≤x≤0.999, and M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of Ir, Rh, Pt, Pd, and Au, and wherein Ru and M form a solid solution at the atomic level, and the anisotropic nanostructure has an anisotropic hexagonal close-packed structure (hcp).

A method of purifying air polluted by smoke and fumes, such as from wildfires and other hazard, may deploy a series of fluid filled vessels that act as filters to trap and/or neutralize components that would foul an aqueous suspension of gold nanoparticles that is effective in converting toxic carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. Non-toxic fluids may be used. As the gold nanoparticles are effective in a basic solution, the solution may contain a visible pH indicator or an apparatus that deploys the method may continuously monitor the pH thereof.

A Ni—Al.sub.2O.sub.3@Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 catalyst with coated structure is provided. The catalyst has a specific surface area of 98 m.sup.2/g to 245 m.sup.2/g, and a pore volume of 0.25 cm.sup.3/g to 1.1 cm.sup.3/g. A mass ratio of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to active component Ni in the catalyst is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Ni=100:4˜26, a mass ratio of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2=100:0.1˜3, and a molar ratio of Al to Si in the Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is 0.01 to 1. Ni particles are distributed on a surface of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier in an amorphous or highly dispersed state and have a grain size less than or equal to 8 nm, and the coating layer is filled among the Ni particles.

A Ni—Al.sub.2O.sub.3@Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 catalyst with coated structure is provided. The catalyst has a specific surface area of 98 m.sup.2/g to 245 m.sup.2/g, and a pore volume of 0.25 cm.sup.3/g to 1.1 cm.sup.3/g. A mass ratio of an Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to active component Ni in the catalyst is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Ni=100:4˜26, a mass ratio of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier to an Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2=100:0.1˜3, and a molar ratio of Al to Si in the Al.sub.2O.sub.3—SiO.sub.2 coating layer is 0.01 to 1. Ni particles are distributed on a surface of the Al.sub.2O.sub.3 carrier in an amorphous or highly dispersed state and have a grain size less than or equal to 8 nm, and the coating layer is filled among the Ni particles.