This invention relates to a process for the preparation of surface-functionalised metal oxide, metal sulphide, metal selenide or metal telluride nanoparticles, a process for the preparation of a composite material comprising such nanoparticles, nanoparticles and a composite material produced thereby, the use of such nanoparticles in catalysis and a catalyst comprising such nanoparticles.

A composition having a substantial or material absence of or no phosphorous and comprising a support material, a metal compound and either a hydrocarbon oil or a polar additive or a combination of both a hydrocarbon oil and polar additive. The polar additive has particularly defined properties including having a dipole moment of at least 0.45. The composition is useful in the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks, and it is especially useful in the hydrotreating of vacuum gas oils and petroleum resid feedstocks.

A novel complex capable of fixing dinitrogen and use thereof are provided. A complex represented by formula (1A) or (1B) or a cationic or anionic complex from the complex: ##STR00001##
wherein M1 to M4 (M1 to M3 in the case of formula (1A)) are each independently Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, or W, and L1 to L4 (L1 to L3 in the case of formula (1A)) are each independently a ligand selected from among a ligand (Cp) including a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl derivative, a diphenylamine ligand, a diphenylphosphine ligand, and a carboimideamide ligand.

The present disclosure relates to using monomer-based heteropolymers to create random heteropolymers that act as biomimetic catalysts that can be evolved to mimic activities of different classes of natural enzymes. The random heteropolymers comprise a mixture of heteropolymer sequences wherein a portion of the heteropolymers comprise a catalytically active region similar to that of a naturally occurring enzyme active site.

The present disclosure features a method of making an engine aftertreatment catalyst, where the engine aftertreatment catalyst includes a metal oxide, a metal zeolite, and/or vanadium oxide when the metal oxide is different from vanadium oxide, each of which can be independently surface-modified with a surface modifier. The method includes providing a solution including an organic solvent and an organometallic compound; mixing the solution with a metal oxide, a metal zeolite, and/or a vanadium oxide to provide a mixture; drying the mixture; and calcining the mixture to provide a surface-modified metal oxide catalyst, a surface-modified metal zeolite catalyst, and/or a surface-modified vanadium oxide catalyst. The organometallic compound can be, for example, a metal alkoxide, a metal carboxylate, a metal acetylacetonate, and/or a metal organic acid ester.

The present disclosure features a method of making an engine aftertreatment catalyst, where the engine aftertreatment catalyst includes a metal oxide, a metal zeolite, and/or vanadium oxide when the metal oxide is different from vanadium oxide, each of which can be independently surface-modified with a surface modifier. The method includes providing a solution including an organic solvent and an organometallic compound; mixing the solution with a metal oxide, a metal zeolite, and/or a vanadium oxide to provide a mixture; drying the mixture; and calcining the mixture to provide a surface-modified metal oxide catalyst, a surface-modified metal zeolite catalyst, and/or a surface-modified vanadium oxide catalyst. The organometallic compound can be, for example, a metal alkoxide, a metal carboxylate, a metal acetylacetonate, and/or a metal organic acid ester.

A method for forming a graphene quantum dot product includes adding an organic starting material to a vessel and heating the organic starting material to a temperature within 20 C. of the organic starting material's boiling temperature for a time no longer than ten minutes to form graphene quantum dots. A method for sensing a graphene quantum dot includes forming a graphene quantum dot, exciting the graphene quantum dot with light having a first wavelength, measuring light emitted by the excited graphene quantum dot at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A graphene quantum dot includes carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms where the nitrogen atoms are present within the graphene quantum dot at a level between 6.0% and 11.0% of a level of carbon atoms present in the graphene quantum dot.

A non-aqueous metal catalytic composition includes (a) a silver complex comprising reducible silver ions, (b) an oxyazinium salt silver ion photoreducing agent, (c) a hindered pyridine, (d) a photocurable component, a non-curable polymer, or combination of a photocurable component and a non-curable polymer, and (e) a photo sensitizer different from all components (a) through (d) in the non-aqueous metal catalytic composition, in an amount of at least 1 weight %. This non-aqueous metal catalytic composition can be used to form silver metal particles in situ during suitable reducing conditions. The silver metal can be provided in a suitable layer or pattern on a substrate, which can then be subsequently subjected to electroless plating to form electrically-conductive layers or patterns for use in various articles or as touch screen displays in electronic devices.

A process is provided for liquid sulfur degasification in an underground container, comprising: collecting liquid sulfur which contains polysulfides and hydrogen sulfide in a first compartment of the underground container; agitating and creating turbulence in the liquid sulfur in the first compartment of the underground container; transferring the liquid sulfur into a second compartment of the underground container; injecting gas into the liquid sulfur into the second compartment of the underground container via gas spargers, and also injecting morpholine catalyst into the liquid sulfur in the second compartment of the underground container to produce a degassed liquid sulfur; and transferring the degassed liquid sulfur into a third compartment of the underground container for storage and subsequent removal.

SuperDegas process refers to innovative process of the liquid sulfur collection and degassing which takes place in the underground container in a concrete pit or a carbon steel vessel located in the concrete pit. SuperDegas process consists of at least three compartments: (1) sulfur collection to agitate and create turbulent, higher velocity, and higher pressure in the liquid sulfur for more effective degassing by using vertical pumps; (2) consists of the proprietary air spargers and Morpholine catalyst for degassing. Morpholine catalyst degas the liquid sulfur 30 times faster than Quinoline or any other solvent with sparging air and within 1 hour residence time from 16-30 hours and to meet less than 10 ppmw of H2S in liquid sulfur. (3) The last compartment receives the degassed sulfur by overflow and transport through a pump or pumps to other facilities. An eductor will sweep vapor phase containing H2S, vaporized Morpholine with air where the pit vent can be sent to incineration or the reaction furnace. The tail gas stream from SRU can sweep the pit and the discharge shall be recycled to the tail gas unit, which ultimately zero emission can be achieved.