A catalyst composition includes a metal catalyst dispersed in a molten eutectic mixture of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonates or hydroxides. A process for the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons includes contacting in a reactor system a carbon-containing feedstock with at least one catalyst in the presence of oxygen to generate olefinic and/or aromatic compounds; and collecting the olefinic and/or aromatic compounds; wherein: the at least one catalyst includes a metal catalyst dispersed in a molten eutectic mixture of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonates or hydroxides. A process for preparing the catalyst includes mixing metal catalyst precursors selected from transition metal compounds and rare-earth metal compounds and a eutectic mixture of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal carbonates or hydroxides and heating it. A use of the catalyst in the catalytic cracking process of hydrocarbons.

[Problem to be Solved] To provide a catalyst having hydrotreatment (hydrogenation, desulfurization and denitrogenation) performance that is equal to or superior to the prior art, as a hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oils, and a hydrotreating process for hydrocarbon oils using the catalyst. [Means to Solve the Problem] A hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oils comprising, at least one metal selected from the group 6 of the periodic table, at least one metal selected from the groups 8 to 10 of the periodic table, and optionally further phosphorus and/or boron as catalytic active components supported on an inorganic porous support based on alumina, wherein the inorganic porous support comprises, as constituent components thereof, silica in an amount of less than 1% by mass with respect to the mass of the oxide and a metal of the group 4 of the periodic table in an amount of less than 13% by mass as an oxide; wherein the metal of the group 4 of the periodic table is highly dispersed in the inorganic porous support, a degree of dispersion thereof is shown by that no peak is substantially observed in the wave number range of 100 to 200 cm.sup.−1 by Raman spectroscopy and that no crystal is substantially observed by X-ray diffraction analysis; wherein the hydrotreating catalyst has a specific surface area of 100 to 300 m.sup.2/g, a pore volume of 0.2 to 0.5 ml/g, an average pore diameter of 6 to 10 nm, and a NO adsorption amount of 4.5 cm.sup.3/ml or more as catalytic characteristics; and wherein no crystals derived from the metal oxide salts of the group 6 of the periodic table are not substantially observed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

[Problem to be Solved] To provide a catalyst having hydrotreatment (hydrogenation, desulfurization and denitrogenation) performance that is equal to or superior to the prior art, as a hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oils, and a hydrotreating process for hydrocarbon oils using the catalyst. [Means to Solve the Problem] A hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oils comprising, at least one metal selected from the group 6 of the periodic table, at least one metal selected from the groups 8 to 10 of the periodic table, and optionally further phosphorus and/or boron as catalytic active components supported on an inorganic porous support based on alumina, wherein the inorganic porous support comprises, as constituent components thereof, silica in an amount of less than 1% by mass with respect to the mass of the oxide and a metal of the group 4 of the periodic table in an amount of less than 13% by mass as an oxide; wherein the metal of the group 4 of the periodic table is highly dispersed in the inorganic porous support, a degree of dispersion thereof is shown by that no peak is substantially observed in the wave number range of 100 to 200 cm.sup.−1 by Raman spectroscopy and that no crystal is substantially observed by X-ray diffraction analysis; wherein the hydrotreating catalyst has a specific surface area of 100 to 300 m.sup.2/g, a pore volume of 0.2 to 0.5 ml/g, an average pore diameter of 6 to 10 nm, and a NO adsorption amount of 4.5 cm.sup.3/ml or more as catalytic characteristics; and wherein no crystals derived from the metal oxide salts of the group 6 of the periodic table are not substantially observed by X-ray diffraction analysis.

A catalyst composition comprises an acrolein-oxidizing catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide catalyst of general formula (1):

MoV.sub.aA.sup.1.sub.bA.sup.2.sub.cA.sup.3.sub.dO.sub.m  (I)

in which A.sup.1 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of W and Cu; A.sup.2 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sb, Fe, and Nb; A.sup.3 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Cr, Mn, Re, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Si, Te, Pb, P, As, Bi, Se, rare earth elements, alkaline elements, and alkaline earth elements; a ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; b ranges from 0.01 to 1.5; c ranges from 0 to 1.5; d ranges from 0 to 1.0; and m is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements. The catalyst composition further comprises a finishing catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide catalyst of general formula (II):

MoV.sub.wNb.sub.xX.sup.1.sub.yX.sup.2.sub.zO.sub.n  (II)

in which X.sup.1 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te and Sb; X.sup.2 comprises at least one an element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Bi, Se, rare earth elements and alkaline earth elements; w ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; x ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; y ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; z ranges from 0 to 1.0; and n is depended on the oxidation state of the other elements. The finishing catalyst does not contain W or Cu, and has an X-ray diffraction pattern showing an orthorhombic phase as the major crystal phase with main peaks with 2θ at 6.7°, 7.8°, 22.1°, and 27.2°. The acrolein-oxidizing catalyst has a different chemical composition than the finishing catalyst. A process for producing acrylic acid is also disclosed.

A catalyst composition comprises an acrolein-oxidizing catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide catalyst of general formula (1):

MoV.sub.aA.sup.1.sub.bA.sup.2.sub.cA.sup.3.sub.dO.sub.m  (I)

in which A.sup.1 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of W and Cu; A.sup.2 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sb, Fe, and Nb; A.sup.3 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta, Cr, Mn, Re, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Si, Te, Pb, P, As, Bi, Se, rare earth elements, alkaline elements, and alkaline earth elements; a ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; b ranges from 0.01 to 1.5; c ranges from 0 to 1.5; d ranges from 0 to 1.0; and m is dependent on the oxidation state of the other elements. The catalyst composition further comprises a finishing catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide catalyst of general formula (II):

MoV.sub.wNb.sub.xX.sup.1.sub.yX.sup.2.sub.zO.sub.n  (II)

in which X.sup.1 comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Te and Sb; X.sup.2 comprises at least one an element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Bi, Se, rare earth elements and alkaline earth elements; w ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; x ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; y ranges from 0.01 to 1.0; z ranges from 0 to 1.0; and n is depended on the oxidation state of the other elements. The finishing catalyst does not contain W or Cu, and has an X-ray diffraction pattern showing an orthorhombic phase as the major crystal phase with main peaks with 2θ at 6.7°, 7.8°, 22.1°, and 27.2°. The acrolein-oxidizing catalyst has a different chemical composition than the finishing catalyst. A process for producing acrylic acid is also disclosed.

The present invention is a method for removing sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks and for performing hydrogenation reactions in sulfur-contaminated feedstocks, including the hydrogenation of naphthalene in the presence of sulfur compounds, using catalysts or adsorbents comprising metal oxide nanowires decorated with reduced catalytically-active metal particles. In a preferred embodiment, the adsorbent comprises zinc oxide nanowires decorated with catalytically-active metals selected from nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, copper, oxides thereof, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the sulfur is removed through a desulfurization process without an external hydrogen supply. The process is effective for the removal of sulfur from diesel fuels and liquid fuel streams, and for deep desulfurization of natural gas streams. The process is also effective for the selective hydrogenation of naphthalene to tetralin in the presence of sulfur compounds.

The present invention is a method for removing sulfur from liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks and for performing hydrogenation reactions in sulfur-contaminated feedstocks, including the hydrogenation of naphthalene in the presence of sulfur compounds, using catalysts or adsorbents comprising metal oxide nanowires decorated with reduced catalytically-active metal particles. In a preferred embodiment, the adsorbent comprises zinc oxide nanowires decorated with catalytically-active metals selected from nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, copper, oxides thereof, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the sulfur is removed through a desulfurization process without an external hydrogen supply. The process is effective for the removal of sulfur from diesel fuels and liquid fuel streams, and for deep desulfurization of natural gas streams. The process is also effective for the selective hydrogenation of naphthalene to tetralin in the presence of sulfur compounds.

A method for producing a catalyst for unsaturated carboxylic acid synthesis is proposed. The method includes: obtaining a dried product by drying and heat-treating a starting material mixed liquid in which supply source compounds of respective catalyst component elements are integrated; and forming a catalyst precursor by supporting powder to be supported on a carrier in the form of a particle aggregate. The powder to be supported is either the dried product or obtained from the dried product. The method further includes calcining the catalyst precursor to form the catalyst. The mass loss rate of the powder to be supported at 300° C. is less than 5 percent by mass, and the difference between the mass loss rate of the powder at 370° C. and the mass loss rate of the powder at 300° C. is not less than 1 percent by mass and not more than 6 percent by mass.

A method for producing a catalyst for unsaturated carboxylic acid synthesis is proposed. The method includes: obtaining a dried product by drying and heat-treating a starting material mixed liquid in which supply source compounds of respective catalyst component elements are integrated; and forming a catalyst precursor by supporting powder to be supported on a carrier in the form of a particle aggregate. The powder to be supported is either the dried product or obtained from the dried product. The method further includes calcining the catalyst precursor to form the catalyst. The mass loss rate of the powder to be supported at 300° C. is less than 5 percent by mass, and the difference between the mass loss rate of the powder at 370° C. and the mass loss rate of the powder at 300° C. is not less than 1 percent by mass and not more than 6 percent by mass.

A method comprising treating combustion exhaust gas containing nitrogen oxides in the presence of a denitration catalyst to remove nitrogen oxides from the combustion exhaust gas, wherein the denitration catalyst is composed of a shaped product comprising a catalyst component, the shaped product has micro cracks in a mesh pattern or a bipectinate pattern on the surface of the shaped product, and the micro cracks have a 95% crack width of 100 μm or less and a crack area ratio variation coefficient of 0.7 or less.