A method of making stable aqueous dispersions and concentrates of cobalt oxide nanoparticles is described, wherein a reaction mixture comprising cobalt(II) ion, a carboxylic acid, a base, an oxidant and water is formed, and in which cobalt oxide nanoparticles are formed. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles ranging in average crystallite size from about 4 nm to 15 nm are described. The cobalt oxide nanoparticles may be isolated and redispersed to form stable, homogeneous, aqueous dispersions of cobalt oxide nanoparticles containing from about 1 to about 20 weight percent cobalt oxide.

The present invention relates to catalysts, more particularly to a cobalt-containing catalyst composition. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process wherein such a catalyst is used. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cobalt-containing catalyst composition comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound supported on and/or in a catalyst support; the catalyst composition also including a titanium compound on and/or in the catalyst support, and a manganese compound on and/or in the catalyst support.

Controlled height carbon nanotube arrays including catalysts and synthesis methods relating thereto are disclosed. Such nanotube arrays can be prepared from catalyst particles having an Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio impregnated in an exfoliated layered mineral to grow carbon nanotube arrays where the Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio of the catalyst is used to control the height of the array.

Controlled height carbon nanotube arrays including catalysts and synthesis methods relating thereto are disclosed. Such nanotube arrays can be prepared from catalyst particles having an Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio impregnated in an exfoliated layered mineral to grow carbon nanotube arrays where the Fe:Co:Ni molar ratio of the catalyst is used to control the height of the array.

An apparatus for forming C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from carbon dioxide and hydrogen is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen and an outlet for the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof and including therein a catalyst comprising nickel and/or cobalt and/or copper on a support. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide is exposed to the catalyst in the presence of the hydrogen in the generated plasma, thereby forming the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen. The DBD devices comprises a water electrode. A method and a catalyst are also described.

An apparatus for forming C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from carbon dioxide and hydrogen is described. The apparatus comprises: a dielectric barrier discharge, DBD, device arranged to generate a plasma; and a passageway having an inlet for the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen and an outlet for the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof and including therein a catalyst comprising nickel and/or cobalt and/or copper on a support. The passageway extends, at least in part, through the DBD device wherein, in use, the carbon dioxide is exposed to the catalyst in the presence of the hydrogen in the generated plasma, thereby forming the C1 to C5 alcohol, carboxylic acid, or mixture thereof from at least some of the carbon dioxide and the hydrogen. The DBD devices comprises a water electrode. A method and a catalyst are also described.

The invention relates to a method for producing a metal-foam body, comprising the steps of (a) providing a metal-foam body A, which consists of nickel, cobalt, copper, or alloys or combinations thereof, (b) applying an aluminum-containing material MP to metal-foam body A so as to obtain metal-foam body AX, (c) thermally treating of metal-foam body AX, with the exclusion of oxygen, to achieve the formation of an alloy between the metallic components of metal-foam body A and the aluminum-containing material MP so as to obtain metal-foam body B, wherein the duration of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the temperature of the thermal treatment and the temperature of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the thickness of the metal-foam body AX. The invention also relates to the metal-foam bodies obtainable by the methods according to the invention and to the use thereof as catalysts for chemical transformations.

A silica-alumina based composite material for making hydroprocessing catalysts, is disclosed. The silica-alumina composite material generally comprises at least two silica-aluminas, the first being a modified first silica-alumina, and the second being a second silica-alumina that is unmodified or modified. The first silica-alumina is modified to comprise silica and alumina domains and a silica-alumina interphase. The second silica-alumina may also be modified at the same time or separately to comprise silica and alumina domains and a silica-alumina interphase. The first silica-alumina and the second silica-alumina differ in one or more physical and/or chemical characteristics, e.g., the ratio of silica to alumina, surface area, pore size, pore volume, silica domain size, or alumina domain size. The invention can be used for making catalyst base materials and catalysts useful for upgrading hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce fuels, lubricants, chemicals and other hydrocarbonaceous compositions.

Carbon nanofiber doped alumina (Al—CNF) supported MoCo catalysts in hydrodesulfurization (HDS), and/or boron doping, e.g., up to 5 wt % of total catalyst weight, can improve catalytic efficiency. Al—CNF-supported MoCo catalysts, (Al—CNF—MoCo), can reduce the sulfur concentration in fuel, esp. liquid fuel, to below the required limit in a 6 h reaction time. Thus, Al—CNF—MoCo has a higher catalytic activity than Al—MoCo, which may be explained by higher mesoporous surface area and better dispersion of MoCo metals on the AlCNF support relative to alumina support. The BET surface area of Al—MoCo may be 75% less than Al—CNF—MoCo, e.g., 166 vs. 200 m.sup.2/g. SEM images indicate that the catalyst nanoparticles can be evenly distributed on the surface of the CNF. The surface area of the AlMoCoB5% may be 206 m.sup.2/g, which is higher than AlMoCoB0% and AlMoCoB2%, and AlMoCoB5% has the highest HDS activity, removing more than 98% sulfur and below allowed levels.

Carbon nanofiber doped alumina (Al—CNF) supported MoCo catalysts in hydrodesulfurization (HDS), and/or boron doping, e.g., up to 5 wt % of total catalyst weight, can improve catalytic efficiency. Al—CNF-supported MoCo catalysts, (Al—CNF—MoCo), can reduce the sulfur concentration in fuel, esp. liquid fuel, to below the required limit in a 6 h reaction time. Thus, Al—CNF—MoCo has a higher catalytic activity than Al—MoCo, which may be explained by higher mesoporous surface area and better dispersion of MoCo metals on the AlCNF support relative to alumina support. The BET surface area of Al—MoCo may be 75% less than Al—CNF—MoCo, e.g., 166 vs. 200 m.sup.2/g. SEM images indicate that the catalyst nanoparticles can be evenly distributed on the surface of the CNF. The surface area of the AlMoCoB5% may be 206 m.sup.2/g, which is higher than AlMoCoB0% and AlMoCoB2%, and AlMoCoB5% has the highest HDS activity, removing more than 98% sulfur and below allowed levels.