Systems and methods use oxygen uncoupling metal oxide material for decomposition of NO.sub.x. A gaseous input stream comprising NO.sub.x is contacted with a metal oxide particle, generating nitrogen (N.sub.2) gas and an oxidized metal oxide particle. After contacting the first gaseous input stream with the metal oxide particle, a first gaseous product stream is collected. The first gaseous product stream includes substantially no NO.sub.x. A second gaseous input stream comprising at least one sweeping gas is also contacted with the oxidized metal oxide particle. After contacting the oxidized metal oxide particle, the sweeping gas includes oxygen (O.sub.2) and a reduced metal oxide particle is generated. Then a second gaseous product stream is collected, where the second gaseous product stream includes oxygen (O.sub.2) gas.

Ceramic compositions with catalytic activity are provided, along with methods for using such catalytic ceramic compositions. The ceramic compositions correspond to compositions that can acquire increased catalytic activity by cyclic exposure of the ceramic composition to reducing and oxidizing environments at a sufficiently elevated temperature. The ceramic compositions can be beneficial for use as catalysts in reaction environments involving swings of temperature and/or pressure conditions, such as a reverse flow reaction environment. Based on cyclic exposure to oxidizing and reducing conditions, the surface of the ceramic composition can be converted from a substantially fully oxidized state to various states including at least some dopant metal particles supported on a structural oxide surface.

Ceramic compositions with catalytic activity are provided, along with methods for using such catalytic ceramic compositions. The ceramic compositions correspond to compositions that can acquire increased catalytic activity by cyclic exposure of the ceramic composition to reducing and oxidizing environments at a sufficiently elevated temperature. The ceramic compositions can be beneficial for use as catalysts in reaction environments involving swings of temperature and/or pressure conditions, such as a reverse flow reaction environment. Based on cyclic exposure to oxidizing and reducing conditions, the surface of the ceramic composition can be converted from a substantially fully oxidized state to various states including at least some dopant metal particles supported on a structural oxide surface.

Methods are described herein that involve rotating or gently mixing nickel(II)-containing particles in a reaction vessel while heating the particles and flowing a reducing atmosphere through the reaction vessel for a time sufficient to generate free-flowing nickel metal (Ni(0)) from the nickel(II)-containing particles.

Methods are described herein that involve rotating or gently mixing nickel(II)-containing particles in a reaction vessel while heating the particles and flowing a reducing atmosphere through the reaction vessel for a time sufficient to generate free-flowing nickel metal (Ni(0)) from the nickel(II)-containing particles.

The present invention relates to methods for producing metal-supported thin layer skeletal catalyst structures, to methods for producing catalyst support structures without separately applying an intermediate washcoat layer, and to novel catalyst compositions produced by these methods. Catalyst precursors may be interdiffused with the underlying metal support then activated to create catalytically active skeletal alloy surfaces. The resulting metal-anchored skeletal layers provide increased conversion per geometric area compared to conversions from other types of supported alloy catalysts of similar bulk compositions, and provide resistance to activity loss when used under severe on-stream conditions. Particular compositions of the metal-supported skeletal catalyst alloy structures can be used for conventional steam methane reforming to produce syngas from natural gas and steam, for hydrodeoxygenation of pyrolysis bio-oils, and for other metal-catalyzed reactions inter alia.

The present invention relates to methods for producing metal-supported thin layer skeletal catalyst structures, to methods for producing catalyst support structures without separately applying an intermediate washcoat layer, and to novel catalyst compositions produced by these methods. Catalyst precursors may be interdiffused with the underlying metal support then activated to create catalytically active skeletal alloy surfaces. The resulting metal-anchored skeletal layers provide increased conversion per geometric area compared to conversions from other types of supported alloy catalysts of similar bulk compositions, and provide resistance to activity loss when used under severe on-stream conditions. Particular compositions of the metal-supported skeletal catalyst alloy structures can be used for conventional steam methane reforming to produce syngas from natural gas and steam, for hydrodeoxygenation of pyrolysis bio-oils, and for other metal-catalyzed reactions inter alia.

The invention relates to a silver-comprising catalyst system for the preparation of aldehydes and/or ketones by oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols, in particular the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to form formaldehyde, comprising a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer, wherein the first catalyst layer consists of a silver-comprising material in the form of balls of wire, gauzes or knitteds having a weight per unit area of from 0.3 to 10 kg/m.sup.2 and a wire diameter of from 30 to 200 m and the second catalyst layer consists of a silver-comprising material in the form of granular material having an average particle size of from 0.5 to 5 mm and the two catalyst layers are in direct contact with one another. The invention further relates to a corresponding process for the preparation of aldehydes and/or ketones, in particular of formaldehyde, by oxidative dehydrogenation of corresponding alcohols over a silver-comprising catalyst system.

The invention relates to a silver-comprising catalyst system for the preparation of aldehydes and/or ketones by oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols, in particular the oxidative dehydrogenation of methanol to form formaldehyde, comprising a first catalyst layer and a second catalyst layer, wherein the first catalyst layer consists of a silver-comprising material in the form of balls of wire, gauzes or knitteds having a weight per unit area of from 0.3 to 10 kg/m.sup.2 and a wire diameter of from 30 to 200 m and the second catalyst layer consists of a silver-comprising material in the form of granular material having an average particle size of from 0.5 to 5 mm and the two catalyst layers are in direct contact with one another. The invention further relates to a corresponding process for the preparation of aldehydes and/or ketones, in particular of formaldehyde, by oxidative dehydrogenation of corresponding alcohols over a silver-comprising catalyst system.

Methods for conditioning an ethylene epoxidation catalyst are provided. The conditioning methods comprise contacting an ethylene epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, with a conditioning feed gas comprising oxygen for a period of time of at least 2 hours at a temperature that is above 180 C. and at most 250 C., wherein the contacting of the ethylene epoxidation catalyst with the conditioning feed gas occurs in an epoxidation reactor and in the absence of ethylene. Associated methods for the epoxidation of ethylene are also provided.