The present invention describes the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts of mixed oxides based upon niobium and mixed oxides of zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt and/or aluminum, originating from hydrotalcites (HTs) as precursor phase of heterogeneous catalysts, and application thereof in the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for the production of metal free bis(hydroxy)ethylene (BHET) monomers and oligomers having a processing performance similar to that of the homogeneous catalysis system.

The present invention describes the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts of mixed oxides based upon niobium and mixed oxides of zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt and/or aluminum, originating from hydrotalcites (HTs) as precursor phase of heterogeneous catalysts, and application thereof in the chemical recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) for the production of metal free bis(hydroxy)ethylene (BHET) monomers and oligomers having a processing performance similar to that of the homogeneous catalysis system.

The present invention relates to a method for producing mixtures of hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds, for use as fuel components (preferably in the range C5-C16), by means of catalytic conversion of the oxygenated organic compounds contained in aqueous fractions derived from biomass treatments, wherein said method can comprise at least the following steps: (i) bringing the aqueous mixture containing the oxygenated organic compounds derived from biomass in contact with a catalyst comprising at least Sn and Nb, Sn and Ti, and combinations of Sn, Ti and Nb; (ii) reacting the mixture with the catalyst in a catalytic reactor at temperatures between 100 and 350° C. and under pressures from 1 to 80 bar in the absence of hydrogen; and (iii) recovering the products obtained by means of the liquid/liquid separation of the aqueous and organic phases.

The present invention relates to a method for producing mixtures of hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds, for use as fuel components (preferably in the range C5-C16), by means of catalytic conversion of the oxygenated organic compounds contained in aqueous fractions derived from biomass treatments, wherein said method can comprise at least the following steps: (i) bringing the aqueous mixture containing the oxygenated organic compounds derived from biomass in contact with a catalyst comprising at least Sn and Nb, Sn and Ti, and combinations of Sn, Ti and Nb; (ii) reacting the mixture with the catalyst in a catalytic reactor at temperatures between 100 and 350° C. and under pressures from 1 to 80 bar in the absence of hydrogen; and (iii) recovering the products obtained by means of the liquid/liquid separation of the aqueous and organic phases.

A sintered body containing polycrystalline grains of a metal oxynitride containing at least two metal elements, wherein Ba and at least one metal element of a crystal phase of the sintered body are contained in a triple point that is not a void between the polycrystalline grains. A method for producing the sintered body includes sintering a mixture of at least a metal oxynitride as a main component and a sintering aid containing cyanamide in an atmosphere containing nitrogen or a rare gas or in a reduced-pressure atmosphere of 10 Pa or less while applying a mechanical pressure with a retention time at a maximum heating temperature during the sintering set to 1 minute to 10 minutes.

Disclosed is a cost-effective process for catalytic conversion of simple C.sub.6-based sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from starch (such as different grades of High Fructose Corn Syrup) and cellulosic biomass to 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural (5-HMF) in a continuous-flow tubular reactor in bi-phasic media using inexpensive heterogeneous solid catalysts. Commercial and synthesized heterogeneous solid catalysts were used and their activities in terms of sugar conversion and HMF selectivity and yield were compared. Continuous dehydration of fructose, glucose and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from corn and wood to HMF was achieved and the stability of selected catalysts and feasibility of catalyst recycling and regeneration were demonstrated. The performance of the catalysts and reactor system were examined under different operating conditions including reaction temperature, feeding flow rate, initial feedstock concentration, catalyst loading, presence of extracting organic solvent and phase transfer catalyst and aqueous to organic phase ratio. At the best operating conditions, HMF yield attained 60%, 45% and 53%, from dehydration of fructose, glucose and HFCS-90, respectively.

Disclosed is a cost-effective process for catalytic conversion of simple C.sub.6-based sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from starch (such as different grades of High Fructose Corn Syrup) and cellulosic biomass to 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural (5-HMF) in a continuous-flow tubular reactor in bi-phasic media using inexpensive heterogeneous solid catalysts. Commercial and synthesized heterogeneous solid catalysts were used and their activities in terms of sugar conversion and HMF selectivity and yield were compared. Continuous dehydration of fructose, glucose and industrial-grade sugar syrups derived from corn and wood to HMF was achieved and the stability of selected catalysts and feasibility of catalyst recycling and regeneration were demonstrated. The performance of the catalysts and reactor system were examined under different operating conditions including reaction temperature, feeding flow rate, initial feedstock concentration, catalyst loading, presence of extracting organic solvent and phase transfer catalyst and aqueous to organic phase ratio. At the best operating conditions, HMF yield attained 60%, 45% and 53%, from dehydration of fructose, glucose and HFCS-90, respectively.

The present invention relates to a process for producing butadiene from ethanol, in two reaction steps, comprising a step a) of converting ethanol into acetaldehyde and a step b) of conversion into butadiene, said step b) simultaneously implementing a reaction step and a regeneration step in (n+n/2) fixed-bed reactors, n being equal to 4 or a multiple thereof, comprising a catalyst, said regeneration step comprising four successive regeneration phases, said step b) also implementing three regeneration loops.

The present invention relates to a process for producing butadiene from ethanol, in two reaction steps, comprising a step a) of converting ethanol into acetaldehyde and a step b) of conversion into butadiene, said step b) simultaneously implementing a reaction step and a regeneration step in (n+n/2) fixed-bed reactors, n being equal to 4 or a multiple thereof, comprising a catalyst, said regeneration step comprising four successive regeneration phases, said step b) also implementing three regeneration loops.

The present invention relates to a titania-based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst article which shows comparable or better performance to those which contain vanadium. In particular, the invention relates to the provision of a titania-based SCR catalyst article comprising ceria and niobia and to methods of making these catalysts.