A catalyst composition for preparing o-phenylphenol is provided. The catalyst composition includes a carrier; and a first active metal, a second active metal, and a catalytic promoter carried by the carrier. The first active metal is platinum, and the second active metal is selected from the first, second and third rows of transition metals of groups VIB and VIIIB. The present disclosure utilizes the carrier to carry the first active metal, the second active metal and the catalytic promoter so as to increase the selectivity of o-phenylphenol and the service life of a catalyst.

Processes, methods, and compositions for synthesizing carbon-based materials are provided. The method of synthesizing carbon-based materials includes providing precursors, forming carbon-encapsulated metal structures from the precursors, and forming nano-shell structure-based graphene materials from the carbon-encapsulated metal structures. The precursors are formed from a biomass and a catalyst, and may be pretreated prior to the forming of the carbon-encapsulated metal structures.

Processes, methods, and compositions for synthesizing carbon-based materials are provided. The method of synthesizing carbon-based materials includes providing precursors, forming carbon-encapsulated metal structures from the precursors, and forming nano-shell structure-based graphene materials from the carbon-encapsulated metal structures. The precursors are formed from a biomass and a catalyst, and may be pretreated prior to the forming of the carbon-encapsulated metal structures.

The present invention is directed to improving a catalyst applied to a reaction layer having a structure (PFF structure) in which a polymer electrolyte phase surrounds a periphery of a catalyst with a hydrophilic region interposed therebetween and reducing the amount of catalyst metal particles used. A method for producing a catalyst for a fuel cell, in which a catalyst metal particle is supported on a carrier, includes the steps of: preparing an unmodified catalyst in which a catalyst metal particles is supported on a carrier; and modifying the catalyst metal particle in the unmodified catalyst with at least one type of modifying group selected from a nitric acid group, an amino group, a sulfonic acid group, a hydroxy group, and halogen groups.

Bio-based glacial acrylic acid, produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof and having impurities of hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof, is polymerized to poly(acrylic acid) or superabsorbent polymer using the same processes as petroleum-derived glacial acrylic acid.

Bio-based glacial acrylic acid, produced from hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof and having impurities of hydroxypropionic acid, hydroxypropionic acid derivatives, or mixtures thereof, is polymerized to poly(acrylic acid) or superabsorbent polymer using the same processes as petroleum-derived glacial acrylic acid.

Layered double hydroxides having a high surface area (at least 125 m.sup.2/g) and the formula (I)

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)(I)

wherein M and M are different and each is a charged metal cation (and must be present), z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, 0<x<0.9, b is 0 to 10, c=0 to 10, X is an anion, n is the charge on the anion, and a=z(1x)+xy2; AMO-solvent is aqueous miscible organic solvent, may be prepared by a method which comprises a) precipitating a layered double hydroxide having the formula

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O wherein M, M, z, y, x, a, b and X are as defined above from a solution containing the cations of the metals M and M and the anion X.sup.n-; b) ageing the layered double hydroxide precipitate obtained in step a) in the original solution; c) collecting, then washing the layered double hydroxide precipitate; d) dispersing the wet layered double hydroxide in an AMO solvent so as to produce a slurry of the layered double hydroxide in the solvent; e) maintaining the dispersion obtained in step d); and f) recovering and drying the layered double hydroxide.

The high surface area products have low particle size and are particularly suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, sorbents and coatings.

Layered double hydroxides having a high surface area (at least 125 m.sup.2/g) and the formula (I)

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O.c(AMO-solvent)(I)

wherein M and M are different and each is a charged metal cation (and must be present), z=1 or 2; y=3 or 4, 0<x<0.9, b is 0 to 10, c=0 to 10, X is an anion, n is the charge on the anion, and a=z(1x)+xy2; AMO-solvent is aqueous miscible organic solvent, may be prepared by a method which comprises a) precipitating a layered double hydroxide having the formula

[M.sup.z+.sub.1-xM.sup.y+.sub.x(OH).sub.2].sup.a+(X.sup.n-).sub.a/n.sup.+bH.sub.2O wherein M, M, z, y, x, a, b and X are as defined above from a solution containing the cations of the metals M and M and the anion X.sup.n-; b) ageing the layered double hydroxide precipitate obtained in step a) in the original solution; c) collecting, then washing the layered double hydroxide precipitate; d) dispersing the wet layered double hydroxide in an AMO solvent so as to produce a slurry of the layered double hydroxide in the solvent; e) maintaining the dispersion obtained in step d); and f) recovering and drying the layered double hydroxide.

The high surface area products have low particle size and are particularly suitable for use as catalysts, catalyst supports, sorbents and coatings.

Sulfur-resistant synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) catalysts with significant oxidation capabilities are disclosed. Catalytic layers of SPGM catalyst samples are produced using conventional synthesis techniques to build a washcoat layer completely or substantially free of PGM material. The SPGM catalyst includes a washcoat layer comprising YMnO.sub.3 perovskite and an overcoat layer including a Pt composition deposited on a plurality of support oxides with total PGM loading of about 5 g/ft.sup.3. Resistance to sulfur poisoning and catalytic stability is observed under 1.3 gS/L condition to assess the influence that selected support oxides have on the DOC performance of the SPGM catalysts. The results indicate SPGM catalysts produced to include a layer of low amount of PGM catalyst material deposited on a plurality of support oxides added to a layer of ZPGM catalyst material are capable of providing significant improvements in sulfur resistance of SPGM catalyst systems.

Sulfur-resistant synergized platinum group metals (SPGM) catalysts with significant oxidation capabilities are disclosed. Catalytic layers of SPGM catalyst samples are produced using conventional synthesis techniques to build a washcoat layer completely or substantially free of PGM material. The SPGM catalyst includes a washcoat layer comprising YMnO.sub.3 perovskite and an overcoat layer including a Pt composition deposited on a plurality of support oxides with total PGM loading of about 5 g/ft.sup.3. Resistance to sulfur poisoning and catalytic stability is observed under 1.3 gS/L condition to assess the influence that selected support oxides have on the DOC performance of the SPGM catalysts. The results indicate SPGM catalysts produced to include a layer of low amount of PGM catalyst material deposited on a plurality of support oxides added to a layer of ZPGM catalyst material are capable of providing significant improvements in sulfur resistance of SPGM catalyst systems.