Pyrochlore-based solid mixed oxide materials suitable for use in catalysing a hydrocarbon reforming reaction are disclosed, as well as methods of preparing the materials, and their uses in hydrocarbon reforming processes. The materials contain a catalytic quantity of inexpensive nickel and exhibit catalytic properties in dry reforming reactions that are comparableif not betterthan those observed using expensive noble metal-containing catalysts. Moreover, the Pyrochlore-based solid mixed oxide materials can be used in low temperature dry reforming reactions, where other catalysts would become deactivated due to coking. Accordingly, the catalytic materials represent a sizeable development in the industrial-scale reforming of hydrocarbons.

A process for preparing a catalyst includes impregnating a metal oxide carrier with an aqueous solution to form an impregnated carrier; drying the impregnated carrier to form a dried, impregnated carrier; and heat-treating the dried, impregnated carrier in air to form the catalyst; wherein: the aqueous solution includes a copper salt; and from about 3 wt % to about 15 wt % of a C.sub.3-C.sub.6 multifunctional carboxylic acid; and the catalyst includes from about 5 wt % to about 50 wt % copper oxide.

The present invention provides an exhaust gas purification catalyst including an alkaline earth metal supported in a highly dispersed state on a porous carrier. A catalyst layer of the exhaust gas purification catalyst provided by the invention has an alkaline earth metal-supporting region including a porous carrier, a catalyst metal belonging to the platinum group, and a sulfate of at least one type of alkali earth metal supported on the porous carrier. In a cross-section of this region, a Pearson correlation coefficient R.sub.Ae/M is at least 0.5 as calculated using and for each pixel obtained by carrying out area analysis by FE-EPMA under conditions of pixel size of 0.34 m0.34 m, and measured pixel number 256256, and by measuring the characteristic X-ray intensity (: cps) of the alkaline earth metal element (Ae) and the characteristic X-ray intensity (: cps) of the main constituent element of the inorganic compound constituting the porous carrier for each pixel.

Ceramic compositions with catalytic activity are provided, along with methods for using such catalytic ceramic compositions. The ceramic compositions correspond to compositions that can acquire increased catalytic activity by cyclic exposure of the ceramic composition to reducing and oxidizing environments at a sufficiently elevated temperature. The ceramic compositions can be beneficial for use as catalysts in reaction environments involving swings of temperature and/or pressure conditions, such as a reverse flow reaction environment. Based on cyclic exposure to oxidizing and reducing conditions, the surface of the ceramic composition can be converted from a substantially fully oxidized state to various states including at least some dopant metal particles supported on a structural oxide surface.

A process for preparing a catalyst comprises coating substantial internal surfaces of porous inorganic powders with titanium oxide to form titanium oxide-coated inorganic powders. After the coating, an extrudate comprising the titanium oxide-coated inorganic powders is formed and calcined to form a catalyst support. Then, the catalyst support is impregnated with a solution containing one or more salts of metal selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, cobalt, and nickel.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for supported Ni/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles having a Ni core and a Pt layer disposed on the surface of the Ni core, compositions including supported NiPt nanoparticles, methods of making supported NiPt nanoparticles, methods of using supported NiPt nanoparticles, and the like.

A catalyst in a calcined state has a specific surface area of 20-50 m.sup.2/g of catalyst, and a specific surface area of nickel metal after reduction of the catalyst of 8 to 11 m.sup.2/g, wherein the average particle size of nickel metal is 3-8 nm, the dispersion of the particles is 10-16%, and the content of nickel is 5-15 wt. % based on the weight of calcined catalyst. A support has a specific surface area of 40-120 m.sup.2/g with a pore volume of the support of 0.2-0.4 cm.sup.3/g, wherein the support is selected from a mixture of zirconium oxide and cerium oxide or magnesium oxide, cerium oxide and the ballast being zirconium oxide. The catalyst further contains a promoter selected from the group consisting of palladium and ruthenium, in an amount of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt. %. The catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation with ammonium hydroxide from a solution containing nickel, cerium and zirconium precursors and distilled water or from a solution containing nickel, cerium, zirconium, and magnesium precursors and distilled water, and having a pH of 8.0-9.0. The process is carried out under agitation at a temperature of 40-45 C. for 1-2 hours, followed by filtration, drying at a temperature of 100-110 C. for 6-8 hours, and calcining at a temperature of 400-650 C. for 4-6 hours. The invention provides a high average conversion of natural/associated gas of at least 90% in an autothermal reforming reaction of natural or associated gas, and a high synthesis gas output of at least 7000 m.sup.3/m.sup.3.sub.cat.Math.h.

Disclosed are a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, a preparation method therefor and use thereof in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. Wherein the catalyst comprises: an active component, being at least one selected from VIIIB transition metals; an optional auxiliary metal; and a nitride carrier having a high specific surface area. The catalyst is characterized in that the active metal is supported on the nitride carrier having the high specific surface, such that the active component in the catalyst is highly dispersed. The catalyst has a high hydrothermal stability, an excellent mechanical wear resistance, a high Fischer-Tropsch synthesis activity and an excellent high-temperature stability.

Provided is a process for preparing partially or fully hydrogenated hydrocarbons through hydrogenation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst comprises palladium deposited on carbon with optional acid wash and calcination treatments and with optional additions of silver and/or alkali metals.

A method is for the preparation of furoic acid or of one of its derivatives of formula (I):

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in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 represent, independently of each other, a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl group, a C(O)H group or a COOH group, by heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of furfural or a derivative thereof of formula (II). The oxidation is carried out in the presence of a supported catalyst based on gold nanoparticles, and in a non-alkaline aqueous medium. A composition useful in the method includes at least furfural and supported gold nanoparticles.