Metal carbon and oxide nanocomposites prepared by a simple, low energy demanding, and high yield method are provided. The metal carbon nanocomposites can be prepared with or without a support such as silica, graphite, silicates, and zeolites. Both metal carbon and metal oxides nanocomposites are more efficient in catalytic reduction and oxidation of p-nitrophenol and azo dyes than other reported materials. They have high rate constants, number of catalytic cycles and catalytic turn over number (TON) compared to currently used materials.

A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent, a carboxylic acid, and a chromium-containing compound to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst. A method of preparing a catalyst comprising a) contacting a non-aqueous solvent and a carboxylic acid to form an acidic mixture; b) contacting a titanium-containing compound with the acidic mixture to form a titanium treatment solution; c) contacting a pre-formed chrominated silica-support comprising from about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % water with the titanium treatment solution to form a pre-catalyst; and d) thermally treating the pre-catalyst to form the catalyst.

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of a nitrogen containing biopolymer-based catalyst and to the novel nitrogen containing biopolymer-based catalysts obtainable by this process. In particular, the invention relates to a novel nitrogen containing biopolymer-based catalyst comprising metal particles and at least one nitrogen containing carbon layer. The invention also relates to the use of a nitrogen containing biopolymer-based catalyst in a hydrogenation process, preferably in a process for hydrogenation of nitroarenes, nitriles or imines; in a reductive dehalogenation process of C—X bonds, wherein X is Cl, Br or I, preferably in a process for dehalogenation of organohalides or in a process for deuterium labelling of arenes via dehalogenation of organohalides; or in an oxidation process. Further, the invention relates to a metal complex with the nitrogen containing biopolymer, wherein the metal is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, nickel, palladium and platinum, and wherein the nitrogen containing biopolymer is selected from chitosan, chitin and a polyamino acid.

A nano-functionalized support comprises an application surface and a photocatalytic nanoparticle coating deposited on the application surface. The photocatalytic nanoparticle coating comprises titanium dioxide doped with a nitrogen-containing doping agent.

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.

Methods of using silica-zirconia catalysts in processes to reduce an amount of glycidol, glycidyl ester(s), or both glycidol and glycidyl ester(s) from a triglyceride-containing composition, such as edible oils, are disclosed. Silica-zirconia catalysts and methods of making silica-zirconia catalysts are also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to chromium-on-alumina dehydrogenation catalyst materials, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons using such catalysts. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for preparing a dehydrogenation catalyst material, the method comprising impregnating a chromium-on-alumina material with ascorbic acid, one or more of sodium, lithium and potassium (e.g., sodium), and chromium; and calcining the impregnated material to provide the dehydrogenation catalyst material comprising chromium in the range of 2.5 wt. % to about 35 wt. % and having no more than 100 ppm chromium(VI).

A method for producing a catalyst for a fuel cell comprising: a) injecting carbon particles into a fluidized bed reactor; b) evacuating the fluidized bed reactor to form a base pressure; c) introducing a catalytic metal precursor together with a carrier gas into the fluidized bed reactor to contact the catalytic metal precursor with the carbon particles; d d) purging a purge gas into the fluidized bed reactor; e) introducing a reaction gas into the fluidized bed reactor to attach the catalytic metal precursor to the carbon particles; and f) purging a purge gas into the fluidized bed reactor, wherein, the catalytic metal is attached to the carbon particles in a form of nano-sized spot.

The present invention relates to a porous iron oxide-zirconia composite catalyst, a preparation method thereof, and a method for producing alcohol using the same, and the iron oxide-zirconia composite catalyst having a porous structure may produce alcohol at low cost by carrying out an excellent methane reforming reaction even under room temperature and room pressure conditions through an electrochemical reaction.