A sorbent composition that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream of a coal burning furnace to efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas stream. The sorbent composition may include a sorbent with an associated ancillary catalyst component that is a catalytic metal, a precursor to a catalytic metal, a catalytic metal compound or a precursor to a catalytic metal compound. Alternatively, a catalytic metal or metal compound, or their precursors, may be admixed with the coal feedstock prior to or during combustion in the furnace, or may be independently injected into a flue gas stream. A catalytic promoter may also be used to enhance the performance of the catalytic metal or metal compound.

A mixed metal oxide solid acid catalyst composition is disclosed which provides substantially improved conversion for hydrocarbon transformation reactions namely, alkylation and isomerization. The catalyst composition includes a sulfate ion, Platinum group metal and a mixed metal oxide support material bearing molecular formula:

x.sub.1ZrO.sub.2.x.sub.2Al.sub.2O.sub.3.x.sub.3Yb.sub.2O.sub.3.x.sub.4CuO

wherein the molar coefficients for individual metal oxides are as follows:
x1=55 to 7510.sup.2; x2=12 to 2510.sup.2; x3=1 to 610.sup.2 and x4=0.1 to 510.sup.2;

The concentration of the sulfate ion on the aforementioned catalyst support is between 5 to 17 wt % and that of Platinum group metal is 0.05 to 2.0 wt %.

A mixed metal oxide solid acid catalyst composition is disclosed which provides substantially improved conversion for hydrocarbon transformation reactions namely, alkylation and isomerization. The catalyst composition includes a sulfate ion, Platinum group metal and a mixed metal oxide support material bearing molecular formula:

x.sub.1ZrO.sub.2.x.sub.2Al.sub.2O.sub.3.x.sub.3Yb.sub.2O.sub.3.x.sub.4CuO

wherein the molar coefficients for individual metal oxides are as follows:
x1=55 to 7510.sup.2; x2=12 to 2510.sup.2; x3=1 to 610.sup.2 and x4=0.1 to 510.sup.2;

The concentration of the sulfate ion on the aforementioned catalyst support is between 5 to 17 wt % and that of Platinum group metal is 0.05 to 2.0 wt %.

Some embodiments of the invention include inventive catalysts (e.g., compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia)). Other embodiments include compositions comprising the inventive catalysts. Some embodiments include methods of using the inventive catalysts (e.g., in hydrofluorination of an organic compound). Further embodiments include methods for making the inventive catalysts. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

Some embodiments of the invention include inventive catalysts (e.g., compounds of Formula (I) or (Ia)). Other embodiments include compositions comprising the inventive catalysts. Some embodiments include methods of using the inventive catalysts (e.g., in hydrofluorination of an organic compound). Further embodiments include methods for making the inventive catalysts. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

A two or particularly three-phase process, and corresponding apparatus, desulfurizes sour hydrocarbon gas, e.g., natural gas, generally better than known, using a fixed-bed, two-phase processes in terms of the amount of H.sub.2S scavenged and the breakthrough time of H.sub.2S. The three-phase process is effective in scavenging H.sub.2S at ambient temperature and pressure, using a copper salt catalyst impregnated on alumina or other generally inert support, which is regenerable.

A two or particularly three-phase process, and corresponding apparatus, desulfurizes sour hydrocarbon gas, e.g., natural gas, generally better than known, using a fixed-bed, two-phase processes in terms of the amount of H.sub.2S scavenged and the breakthrough time of H.sub.2S. The three-phase process is effective in scavenging H.sub.2S at ambient temperature and pressure, using a copper salt catalyst impregnated on alumina or other generally inert support, which is regenerable.

A vanadium-based catalyst comprises an active phase carried on a carrier. The active phase comprises vanadium oxide, potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate, and assistants. The carrier comprises ultra-large-pore silicon dioxide and diatomite, the average pore size of the ultra-large-pore silicon dioxide ranges from 100 nm to 500 nm, and the diatomite is a refined diatomite having a silicon dioxide content of higher than 85% after refinement. The preparation method for the vanadium-based catalyst comprises: 1) mixing potassium vanadium and potassium hydroxide, and allowing a prepared mixed solution and sulfuric acid to carry out a neutralization reaction; and 2) mixing a neutralization reaction product in step 1) with the carrier and sodium sulfate, and carrying out rolling, band extrusion, drying and roasting to prepare the vanadium-based catalyst, assistant compounds being added in step 1) and/or step 2).

A vanadium-based catalyst comprises an active phase carried on a carrier. The active phase comprises vanadium oxide, potassium sulfate, sodium sulfate, and assistants. The carrier comprises ultra-large-pore silicon dioxide and diatomite, the average pore size of the ultra-large-pore silicon dioxide ranges from 100 nm to 500 nm, and the diatomite is a refined diatomite having a silicon dioxide content of higher than 85% after refinement. The preparation method for the vanadium-based catalyst comprises: 1) mixing potassium vanadium and potassium hydroxide, and allowing a prepared mixed solution and sulfuric acid to carry out a neutralization reaction; and 2) mixing a neutralization reaction product in step 1) with the carrier and sodium sulfate, and carrying out rolling, band extrusion, drying and roasting to prepare the vanadium-based catalyst, assistant compounds being added in step 1) and/or step 2).

A sorbent composition that is useful for injection into a flue gas stream of a coal burning furnace to efficiently remove mercury from the flue gas stream. The sorbent composition may include a sorbent with an associated ancillary catalyst component that is a catalytic metal, a precursor to a catalytic metal, a catalytic metal compound or a precursor to a catalytic metal compound. Alternatively, a catalytic metal or metal compound, or their precursors, may be admixed with the coal feedstock prior to or during combustion in the furnace, or may be independently injected into a flue gas stream. A catalytic promoter may also be used to enhance the performance of the catalytic metal or metal compound.