A method is described for preparing a catalyst comprising the steps of (i) preparing a calcined shaped calcium aluminate catalyst support, (ii) treating the calcined shaped calcium aluminate support with water, and then drying the support, (iii) impregnating the dried support with a solution containing one or more metal compounds and drying the impregnated support, (iv) calcining the dried impregnated support, to form metal oxide on the surface of the support and (v) optionally repeating steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) on the metal oxide coated support. The method provides an eggshell catalyst in which the metal oxide is concentrated in an outer layer on the support.

A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204? C. to 538? C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538? C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204? C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204? C. to 538? C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538? C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204? C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

A method for preparing a catalyst comprising (i) preparing a calcined shaped calcium aluminate catalyst support, (ii) treating the calcined shaped calcium aluminate support with water, and then drying the support, (iii) impregnating the dried support with a solution containing one or more metal compounds and drying the impregnated support, (iv) calcining the dried impregnated support, to form metal oxide on the surface of the support and (v) optionally repeating steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) on the metal oxide coated support. The method provides an eggshell catalyst in which the metal oxide is concentrated in an outer layer on the support.

Catalysts, catalytic forms and formulations, and catalytic methods are provided. The catalysts and catalytic forms and formulations are useful in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a vanadium and phosphorus mixed oxide (VPO) catalyst for the partial oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. comprising vanadyl pyrophosphate as main component and at least one first promoter element selected from cobalt, iron, copper and mixtures thereof. The present invention further relates to a process for the production of maleic anhydride by partial oxidation of n-butane in the presence of the above mentioned catalyst.

Provided are: a catalyst for dehydration, with which isobutylene is able to be produced with high conversion and high selectivity through a dehydration reaction of isobutanol; and a method for producing isobutylene. This catalyst has a BET specific surface area within the range of from 210 m.sup.2/g to 350 m.sup.2/g (inclusive) as calculated from N.sub.2 adsorption/desorption isotherms. It is preferable that this catalyst is formed of at least one substance selected from among alumina, silica alumina, zeolite, and solid phosphoric acid. It is more preferable that this catalyst contains alumina, and it is especially preferable that this catalyst is formed of alumina. In this method for producing isobutylene, the isobutanol concentration in the starting material gas is preferably 20% by volume or more, more preferably 40% by volume or more, and especially preferably 60% by volume or more. In addition, the temperature of a catalyst layer is preferably from 230 C. to 370 C. (inclusive), and more preferably from 240 C. to 360 C. (inclusive).

The present disclosure relates to a catalyst composition comprising (a) at least one rare earth metal, (b) at least one zeolite, and (c) at least one diluent, wherein, said rare earth metal is impregnated in at least one of (b) and (c); the ratio of said zeolite to said diluent ranges from 1:9 to 9:1; and the amount of said rare earth metal is in the range of 0.1 to 20 w/w %. The present disclosure also relates to a process for preparing a catalyst composition. Further, the present disclosure relates to a process for reducing the olefin content in a hydrocarbon stream using the catalyst of the present disclosure.

A hydrocracking catalyst having a support of a composite of mesoporous materials, molecular sieves and alumina, is used in the last bed of a multi-bed system for treating heavy crude oils and residues and is designed to increase the production of intermediate distillates having boiling points in a temperature range of 204? C. to 538? C., decrease the production of the heavy fraction (>538? C.), and increase the production of gasoline fraction (<204? C.). The feedstock to be processed in the last bed contains low amounts of metals and is lighter than the feedstock that is fed to the first catalytic bed.

A thermal method of forming ferric oxide nano/microparticles with predominant morphology is described using different solvents. Methods of using the Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 nano/microparticles as catalysts in the reduction of nitro compounds with sodium borohydride to the corresponding amines and decomposition of ammonium salts.