Provided is an exhaust-gas-purification catalyst carrier that contains a ceria-zirconia complex oxide having a pyrochlore phase and a novel exhaust-gas-purification catalyst carrier that exhibit excellent OSC performance at any temperature region of a low temperature (around 400 C.) and a high temperature (around 800 C.). Proposed is the exhaust-gas-purification catalyst carrier containing a ceria-zirconia complex oxide which has a pyrochlore phase and is 7.0 m.sup.2/g or more in specific surface area and in the range of 100 to 700 in crystallite size.

Catalyst compositions, methods of making catalysts, and methods of conducting Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reactions are described. It has been discovered that a combination of large crystallite size and high porosity results in catalysts and FT catalyst systems with high stability and low methane selectivity.

The present disclosure relates to a method that includes heating a mixture that includes a metal phenylphosphine-containing precursor that includes at least one of Mo(PPh.sub.3).sub.2(CO).sub.4, Pd(PPh.sub.3).sub.4, Ru(PPh.sub.3).sub.3Cl.sub.2, Ru(PPh.sub.3).sub.2(CO).sub.2Cl.sub.2, Co(PPh.sub.3)(CO).sub.2(NO), and/or Rh(PPh.sub.3).sub.2(CO)Cl, a surfactant, and a solvent. The heating is to a target temperature to form a heated mixture containing a metal phosphide nanoparticle that includes at least one of MoP, Ru.sub.2P, Co.sub.2P, Rh.sub.2P, and/or Pd.sub.3P, and the metal phosphide nanoparticle is not hollow.

This present disclosure is directed to methods for the preparation of a hydrotreatment catalyst, such as nanoscale nickel phosphide (i.e., Ni.sub.2P) particles supported on high-surface area metal oxides (e.g., silica, alumina, amorphous silica-alumina), in a manner that is compatible with conditions employed in commercial hydrotreating units. The catalyst synthesis includes impregnation, drying, and in situ reduction, and can provide highly active catalysts for the removal of S and N impurities from crude oil fractions.

A method for making catalysts of noble metal nanoparticles or alloy nanoparticles or both having shaped morphology, the method including the steps of: pretreating a support material; impregnating metal precursors onto the support material; and then reducing the impregnated metal precursors into shaped metal nanoparticles or shaped alloy nanoparticles or both using a functional gas atmosphere.

A catalyst support comprising samarium, zirconium and aluminum is disclosed. The catalyst support may have a general formula of Sm.sub.2xZr.sub.xAl.sub.2xO.sub.4, in which x is a molar ratio that may be between 0.3 and 0.6.

A semiconductor material basically consists of titanium oxide, with the special feature of being like nanostructures, which gives special physicochemical properties, with ability to disperse and stabilize metal particles with high activity and selectivity in catalytic processes mainly. The process of producing the semiconductor material includes adding a titanium alkoxide to an alcoholic solution, adding an acid to the alcoholic solution, controlling the pH from 1 to 5; subjecting the acidic solution to agitation and reflux conditions at 70 to 80 C.; stabilizing the medium and adding bidistilled water in a water/alkoxide molar ratio of 1-2/0.100-0.150, continuing with reflux until gelation; aging the gel for 1 to 24 hours for complete formation of the titania; drying the titania nanostructured at of 50 to 80 C. for about 1 to 24 hours, and subjecting the dried titania to a calcination step at 200 to 600 C. for 1 to 12 hours.

Process for preparing a catalyst support which process comprises a) mixing pentasil zeolite having a bulk silica to alumina molar ratio in the range of from 20 to 150 with water, a silica source and an alkali metal salt, b) extruding the mixture obtained in step (a), c) drying and calcining the extrudates obtained in step (b), d) subjecting the calcined extrudates obtained in step (c) to ion exchange to reduce the alkali metal content, and e) drying the extrudates obtained in step (d); process for preparing a catalyst by furthermore impregnating such support with platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 0.1 wt % and tin in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt %, each on the basis of total catalyst; ethylbenzene dealkylation catalyst obtainable thereby and a process for dealkylation of ethylbenzene which process comprises contacting feedstock containing ethylbenzene with such catalyst.

Iron compound particles comprise a -FeOOH crystal phase and a metal element other than Fe with which the -FeOOH crystal phase is doped, wherein the metal element other than Fe is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of elements of Al as well as 3d and 4d transition metals belonging to periodic table Groups 4 to 12 other than Fe, an atomic ratio of the metal element other than Fe to the Fe element (metal element other than Fe/Fe element) is 0.001 to 0.5, and the iron compound particles satisfy at least one of the following requirements (A) and (B): (A) having a crystallite diameter of 1 to 60 nm when measured by X-ray diffraction; and (B) having an average particle diameter of 1 to 600 nm when measured by dynamic light scattering in a solvent.

A novel nickel particulate form is provided that efficiently forms a zero-valent nickel complex with a phosphorus-containing ligands in an organic liquid to form a hydrocyanation catalyst. Particles in the nickel particulate form comprise nickel crystallites. For example, the nickel particulate form can have a BET Specific Surface Area of at least about 1 m.sup.2/gm; an average crystallite size less than about 20-25 nm, the nickel particulate form can have at least 10% of the crystallites in the nickel form can have can have a diameter (C10) of less than about 10 nm, and/or there are on average at least about 10.sup.15 surface crystallites per gram nickel. A ratio of BET SSA to C50 for the nickel particulate form can be at least about 0.110.sup.9 m/gm and preferably at least about 0.410.sup.9 m/gm. Methods of preparation and use are also provided.