An ethylene oxide (EO) reactor is provided in which a removable impingement basket is configured to be inserted into the reactor inlet pipe of the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket provides protection for the silver-based catalyst filled tubes and other components that are present inside the EO reactor as well as providing another access point into the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket also can provide better distribution of the inlet gas as compared to an EO reactor containing a non-removable impingement plate.

An ethylene oxide (EO) reactor is provided in which a removable impingement basket is configured to be inserted into the reactor inlet pipe of the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket provides protection for the silver-based catalyst filled tubes and other components that are present inside the EO reactor as well as providing another access point into the EO reactor. The removable impingement basket also can provide better distribution of the inlet gas as compared to an EO reactor containing a non-removable impingement plate.

A catalyst support comprising at least 95% silicon carbide, having surface areas of ≤10 m.sup.2/g and pore volumes of ≤1 cc/g. A method of producing a catalyst support, the method including mixing SiC particles of 0.1-20 microns, SiO.sub.2 and carbonaceous materials to form an extrusion, under inert atmospheres, heating the extrusion at temperatures of greater than 1400° C., and removing residual carbon from the heated support under temperatures below 1000° C. A catalyst on a carrier, comprising a carrier support having at least about 95% SiC, with a silver solution impregnated thereon comprising silver oxide, ethylenediamine, oxalic acid, monoethanolamine and cesium hydroxide. A process for oxidation reactions (e.g., for the production of ethylene oxide, or oxidation reactions using propane or methane), or for endothermic reactions (e.g., dehydrogenation of paraffins, of ethyl benzene, or cracking and hydrocracking hydrocarbons).

A catalyst support comprising at least 95% silicon carbide, having surface areas of ≤10 m.sup.2/g and pore volumes of ≤1 cc/g. A method of producing a catalyst support, the method including mixing SiC particles of 0.1-20 microns, SiO.sub.2 and carbonaceous materials to form an extrusion, under inert atmospheres, heating the extrusion at temperatures of greater than 1400° C., and removing residual carbon from the heated support under temperatures below 1000° C. A catalyst on a carrier, comprising a carrier support having at least about 95% SiC, with a silver solution impregnated thereon comprising silver oxide, ethylenediamine, oxalic acid, monoethanolamine and cesium hydroxide. A process for oxidation reactions (e.g., for the production of ethylene oxide, or oxidation reactions using propane or methane), or for endothermic reactions (e.g., dehydrogenation of paraffins, of ethyl benzene, or cracking and hydrocracking hydrocarbons).

A propulsion element including a catalyzing reactor is disclosed. The catalyzing reactor comprises a reactor entrance and a reactor exit and an internal structure arranged for flowing a reacting medium through the reactor from the reactor entrance to the reactor exit. The reactor structure comprising at least one thin walled reactor channel arranged between the entrance and the exit of the reactor. The channel having a channel wall that includes a catalyst and that defines a flow path, in which channel in use, a catalyzed exothermic reaction takes place in the medium as it flows along the flow path. The at least one channel is looped to have a portion of its flow path that is downstream with respect to the reactor entrance in heat exchanging contact with a portion of a flow path that is that is more upstream with respect to the reactor entrance, so as to transfer heat between a downstream portion of the reacting medium to an upstream portion thereof.

A propulsion element including a catalyzing reactor is disclosed. The catalyzing reactor comprises a reactor entrance and a reactor exit and an internal structure arranged for flowing a reacting medium through the reactor from the reactor entrance to the reactor exit. The reactor structure comprising at least one thin walled reactor channel arranged between the entrance and the exit of the reactor. The channel having a channel wall that includes a catalyst and that defines a flow path, in which channel in use, a catalyzed exothermic reaction takes place in the medium as it flows along the flow path. The at least one channel is looped to have a portion of its flow path that is downstream with respect to the reactor entrance in heat exchanging contact with a portion of a flow path that is that is more upstream with respect to the reactor entrance, so as to transfer heat between a downstream portion of the reacting medium to an upstream portion thereof.

A precursor mixture for producing a porous body, wherein the precursor mixture comprises: (i) at least one milled alpha alumina powder having a particle size of 0.1 to 6 microns, (ii) non-silicate powder that functions as a binder of the alpha alumina powders, and (iii) at least one burnout material having a particle size of 1-10 microns and a decomposition temperature of less than 550° C., with the proviso that a burnout material having a decomposition temperature of 550° C. or greater is excluded from the precursor mixture.

A precursor mixture for producing a porous body, wherein the precursor mixture comprises: (i) at least one milled alpha alumina powder having a particle size of 0.1 to 6 microns, (ii) non-silicate powder that functions as a binder of the alpha alumina powders, and (iii) at least one burnout material having a particle size of 1-10 microns and a decomposition temperature of less than 550° C., with the proviso that a burnout material having a decomposition temperature of 550° C. or greater is excluded from the precursor mixture.

Disclosed is a nanocatalyst-type nanoscale composition including a nanoparticle semiconductor, plasmonic metal nanoparticles and an organic photosensitiser of the carbo-mer type. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a nano-catalyst. Also disclosed is use of the nanocatalyst for photoelectrolysis, in particular, for the photoelectrolysis of water, as well as to a power source including the nanocatalyst.

Disclosed is a nanocatalyst-type nanoscale composition including a nanoparticle semiconductor, plasmonic metal nanoparticles and an organic photosensitiser of the carbo-mer type. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a nano-catalyst. Also disclosed is use of the nanocatalyst for photoelectrolysis, in particular, for the photoelectrolysis of water, as well as to a power source including the nanocatalyst.