The invention provides a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor. The process includes calcining a loaded catalyst support comprising a silica (SiO.sub.2) catalyst support supporting cobalt nitrate to convert the cobalt nitrate into cobalt oxide. The calcination includes heating the loaded catalyst support at a high heating rate, which does not fall below 10° C./minute, during at least a temperature range A. The temperature range A is from the lowest temperature at which calcination of the loaded catalyst support begins to 165° C. Gas flow is effected over the loaded catalyst support during at least the temperature range A. The catalyst precursor is reduced to obtain a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.

Disclosed is catalyst preparation method for liquid phase hydrogenation of acetophenone in preparation of α-phenylethanol. The method includes adding water, small alcohol, Gemini surfactant and organic pore-forming agent to reactor. Then adding silica sol and stirring to prepare aqueous dispersion of silica sol; preparing alkaline precipitant and mixed solution containing salts of copper containing compound, zinc containing compound, rare-earth metal containing compound and alkaline-earth metal containing compound, adding alkaline precipitant and mixed solution together to aqueous dispersion, followed by precipitation, ageing, filtration, washing, drying, calcination and molding to obtain catalyst. By using silica sol and silicate as composite silicon source, adding organic pore-forming agent before precipitation process, modifying catalyst by Zn, rare-earth metal and alkaline earth metal, when using liquid phase hydrogenation of acetophenone to prepare α-phenylethanol, catalyst has high activity and good selectivity, and effectively improves the catalyst's liquid resistance, has high strength and good stability.

Retro-aldol processes are disclosed that use very low concentrations of retro-aldol catalyst in combination with hydrogenation catalyst of certain activities, sizes and spatial dispersions to obtain the high selectivities to ethylene glycol.

A robust catalyst useful for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of sulfur-containing hydrocarbons such as sulfur-containing diesel fuel. The catalyst contains a modified mesoporous silica, such as SBA-15, Zr atoms, Ni, Mo, Ce atoms. A method for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon, such as diesel fuel or a refinery feedstock using the catalyst. A one-pot method for making the catalyst.

A robust catalyst useful for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of sulfur-containing hydrocarbons such as sulfur-containing diesel fuel. The catalyst contains a modified mesoporous silica, such as SBA-15, Zr atoms, Ni, Mo, Ce atoms. A method for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon, such as diesel fuel or a refinery feedstock using the catalyst. A one-pot method for making the catalyst.

The present disclosure relates to a precursor for a catalytically active material or a catalytically active material comprising platinum, a molecular sieve and a metal oxide support, characterized in at least 80%, 90% or 95% of said platinum being dispersed on said molecular sieve and at least 80%, 90% or 95% of said platinum being dispersed in clusters having a size below 2 nm or 1 nm, as well as a method of producing such materials and process for hydroisomerization involving such materials. The disclosure has the associated benefit of such a catalytically active material being highly active and selective towards hydroisomerization.

A hydrofinishing catalyst according to the present invention includes an amorphous silica-alumina support; and a hydrogenated active metal supported on the support, and has an Al composition having a total mass (wt %) of Al and Si as a denominator and a mass (wt %) of Al as a numerator with respect to a reference line, which is a straight line passing through the center of a cross-section of the support, locations evenly spaced apart along the reference line are sequentially numbered, where composition uniformity, which is defined as UN by the Al composition at the i-th location and an average Al composition at the cross-section of the support passing through the center of the support, is 3.0 or less.

A robust catalyst useful for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of sulfur-containing hydrocarbons such as sulfur-containing diesel fuel. The catalyst contains a modified mesoporous silica, such as SBA-15, Zr atoms, Ni, Mo, Ce atoms. A method for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon, such as diesel fuel or a refinery feedstock using the catalyst. A one-pot method for making the catalyst.

Retro-aldol processes are disclosed that use very low concentrations of retro-aldol catalyst in combination with hydrogenation catalyst of certain activities, sizes and spatial dispersions to obtain the high selectivities to ethylene glycol.

Retro-aldol processes are disclosed that use very low concentrations of retro-aldol catalyst in combination with hydrogenation catalyst of certain activities, sizes and spatial dispersions to obtain the high selectivities to ethylene glycol.