A robust and general method is provided to synthesize noble metal-based amorphous-crystalline heterophase nanoparticles, each having an amorphous noble metal core and a crystalline semiconductor/metal shell or a Janus structure with an amorphous noble metal domain and a crystalline metal domain attached side by side with the amorphous noble metal domain (i.e., snowman-like structure). The as-synthesized heterophase nanoparticles not only exhibit superior activities in diverse catalytic reactions but also show unexpected high stability, which could be used as ideal templates for the seeded growth of other nanostructures, thus show tremendous potential in different applications including electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. With efficiently separated photo-induced electron and photo-induced holes, superior catalytic performance of amorphous nanomaterials, efficient solar energy conversion ability of crystalline semiconductors, as well as the synergistic effect between them, the controlled construction of amorphous noble metal-crystalline semiconductor heterostructures can be a promising route to development of high-performance catalysts towards photocatalytic reactions.

A method for preparing nanosized sulfide catalysts includes providing an aqueous solution having an organometallic complex, mixing the organometallic complex with a sulfiding agent, an emulsifier, and a hydrocarbon oil to prepare a water-in-oil nanoemulsion; subjecting the water-in-oil nanoemulsion to thermal decomposition and isolating a solid product from the liquid.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for use of an organosilica material comprising a copolymer of at least one monomer of Formula [R.sup.1R.sup.2SiCH.sub.2].sub.3 (I), wherein, R.sup.1 represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group; and R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkoxy group or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 alkyl group; and at least one other monomer of Formula [(Z.sup.1O).sub.xZ.sup.2.sub.3-xSiZ.sup.3SZ.sup.4] (II), wherein, Z.sup.1 represents a hydrolysable functional group; Z.sup.2 represents a C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl or aryl group; Z.sup.3 represents a C.sub.2-C.sub.11 cyclic or linear hydrocarbon; Z.sup.4 is either H or O.sub.3H; and x represents any one of integers 1, 2, and 3. The composition may be used as a support material to covalently attach transition metal cations, as a sorbent for olefin/paraffin separations, as a catalyst support for hydrogenation reactions, as a precursor for highly dispersed metal nanoparticles, or as a polar sorbent for crude feeds.

Methods and systems for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstocks to form an upgraded material involve the use of a colloidal or molecular catalyst dispersed within a heavy oil feedstock, a pre-coking hydrocracking reactor, a separator, and a coking reactor. The colloidal or molecular catalyst promotes upgrading reactions that reduce the quantity of asphaltenes or other coke forming precursors in the feedstock, increase hydrogen to carbon ratio in the upgraded material, and decrease boiling points of hydrocarbons in the upgraded material. The methods and systems can be used to upgrade vacuum tower bottoms and other low grade heavy oil feedstocks. The result is one or more of increased conversion level and yield, improved quality of upgraded hydrocarbons, reduced coke formation, reduced equipment fouling, processing of a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and more efficient use of supported catalyst if used in combination with the colloidal or molecular catalyst, as compared to a conventional hydrocracking process or a conventional thermal coking process.

Methods and systems for hydroprocessing heavy oil feedstocks to form an upgraded material involve the use of a colloidal or molecular catalyst dispersed within a heavy oil feedstock, a pre-coking hydrocracking reactor, a separator, and a coking reactor. The colloidal or molecular catalyst promotes upgrading reactions that reduce the quantity of asphaltenes or other coke forming precursors in the feedstock, increase hydrogen to carbon ratio in the upgraded material, and decrease boiling points of hydrocarbons in the upgraded material. The methods and systems can be used to upgrade vacuum tower bottoms and other low grade heavy oil feedstocks. The result is one or more of increased conversion level and yield, improved quality of upgraded hydrocarbons, reduced coke formation, reduced equipment fouling, processing of a wider range of lower quality feedstocks, and more efficient use of supported catalyst if used in combination with the colloidal or molecular catalyst, as compared to a conventional hydrocracking process or a conventional thermal coking process.

The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

The invention relates to the conversion of paraffinic hydrocarbon to oligomers of greater molecular weight and/or to aromatic hydrocarbon. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such conversion, and to the use of such conversion for, e.g., natural gas upgrading. Corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is produced from the paraffinic hydrocarbon in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst containing a catalytically active carbonaceous component. The corresponding olefinic hydrocarbon is then converted by oligomerization and/or dehydrocyclization in the presence of at least one molecular sieve catalyst.

Alkyl alkanoates, e.g., methyl propionate, are made by a gas phase process comprising the step of contacting under carbonylation conditions an alkene (e.g., ethylene), carbon monoxide, an alkanol (e.g., methanol), and a solid sulfide-based metal catalyst (e.g., iron sulfide). The alkyl alkanoate can be converted in a second step to an alkyl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid, e.g., methyl methacrylate, through condensation with an aldehyde, e.g., formaldehyde.

Alkyl alkanoates, e.g., methyl propionate, are made by a gas phase process comprising the step of contacting under carbonylation conditions an alkene (e.g., ethylene), carbon monoxide, an alkanol (e.g., methanol), and a solid sulfide-based metal catalyst (e.g., iron sulfide). The alkyl alkanoate can be converted in a second step to an alkyl ester of an aliphatic carboxylic acid, e.g., methyl methacrylate, through condensation with an aldehyde, e.g., formaldehyde.

Disclosed are a grain boundary and surface-doped rare earth manganese-zirconium composite compound as well as a preparation method and use thereof. A rare earth manganese oxide with a special structure is formed at grain boundary and surface of a rare earth zirconium-based oxide by a grain boundary doping method so as to increase oxygen defects at the grain boundary and the surface, thereby increasing the amount of active oxygen, improving the catalytic activity of the rare earth manganese-zirconium composite compound, inhibiting high-temperature sintering of the rare earth manganese-zirconium composite compound, and improving the NO catalytic oxidation capability. When the rare earth manganese-zirconium composite compound is applied to a catalyst, the consumption of noble metal can be greatly reduced.