A hydrocarbon conversion process is described. The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst in a reaction zone under reaction conditions to form a mixture comprising reaction products, and the non-cyclic amide or thioamide based ionic liquid catalyst. Typical hydrocarbon conversion processes include alkylation, oligomerization, isomerization, disproportionation, and reverse disproportionation.

Catalysts for the reduction of CO.sub.2 are described herein. More specifically, catalysts of Formula I and Formula II: ##STR00001##
wherein LB is a Lewis base; LA is a Lewis acid; R.sup.1 is selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl; and R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 are independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, phenyl and substituted phenyl; are described. A process for the production of methanol from CO.sub.2 using such catalysts is also described.

Cross-linked cyclocopolymers made up of one or more quaternary ammonium salts and sulfur dioxide as monomers. One of the quaternary ammonium salts is also an aspartic acid derivative. The cross-linked copolymers include a repeating unit with multiple chelating centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked copolymers are zwitterionic or anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method for removing metal ions from an aqueous sample with these cross-linked copolymers is also described.

A method for producing catalyst particles is disclosed and includes forming a solution including a solvent and a material including catalyst material, wherein the material including catalyst material is dissolved or emulsified in the solvent; aerosolizing the formed solution to produce droplets including the material including catalyst material; and treating the droplets to produce catalyst particles or intermediate catalyst particles from the material including catalyst material comprised in the droplets. A method for producing nanomaterials, an apparatus, a catalyst particle and a solution droplet for the production of a catalyst particle are also disclosed.

Cross-linked cyclocopolymers made up of one or more quaternary ammonium salts and sulfur dioxide as monomers. One of the quaternary ammonium salts is also an aspartic acid derivative. The cross-linked copolymers include a repeating unit with multiple chelating centers that different metal ions can bind to. The cross-linked copolymers are zwitterionic or anionic, and can be in either an acidic form or a basic form. A method for removing metal ions from an aqueous sample with these cross-linked copolymers is also described.