The present disclosure provides a catalyst composition for conversion of biomass to crude bio oil. The composition comprises at least one metal compound, at least one support and at least one stabilizing/solubilizing agent. Also disclosed are processes for the preparation of catalyst composition, and hydrothermal conversion of biomass to crude bio oil.

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for fabrication of microtube engines using membrane template electrodeposition. Such nanomotors operate based on bubble-induced propulsion in biological fluids and salt-rich environments. In one aspect, fabricating microengines includes depositing a polymer layer on a membrane template, depositing a conductive metal layer on the polymer layer, and dissolving the membrane template to release the multilayer microtubes.

Methods of forming a hierarchical porous monolith are provided. The methods include mixing a monomer, a silica precursor and a catalyst in a solvent to form a mixture. The methods also include adding a gelling agent to the mixture to form a polymer-silica composite gel. The polymer-silica composite gel undergoes a phase separation to separate from the solvent and the unreacted silica precursor. The method further includes drying the polymer-silica composite gel to evaporate the solvent to form a polymer-silica monolith and processing the polymer-silica monolith to form at least one of a polymer monolith, a carbon monolith, a silica monolith and a carbon-silica monolith.

There is described a versatile and environment-friendly one-pot process for the preparation of nanoparticles of noble metals in hydrogel, obtainable at room temperature using quaternized hydroxyethylcellulose.

A hydrodemetallization (HDM) catalyst includes an alumina and carbon extrudate support having a weight ratio of about 1:1 alumina to carbon and bimodal type pore size distribution, i.e., both meso-porosity and macro-porosity. The support can be impregnated with at least one hydrogenation active metal and, optionally, at least one promoter metal from the transition metals of Groups 6, 8, 9, and 10 of the Periodic Table. The hydrogenation active metal can be, for example, Mo, W, and Fe. The promoter metal can be, for example, Co, Ni, and Fe. The catalyst may further include ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA).

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

A process for preparing a selective hydrogenation catalyst is described, wherein is provided a catalyst precursor, comprising at least one group VIII metal in the metallic form, and at least one support formed of at least one oxide, characterized in that a step is performed of contacting the said catalyst precursor in the metallic form, in the liquid phase and in the presence of a reducing and/or inert atmosphere, with a non-polar solvent containing a silicon compound, the said silicon compound is selected from the silanes containing at least one SiH bond and at least one SiC bond, the silanols and the cyclic siloxanes. The selective hydrogenation process implementing the said catalyst is also described.

Provided is a method for producing aldehydes that brings an excellent alcohol conversion and aldehyde selectivity while suppressing generation of aldol condensates, etc. The method for producing aldehydes includes a step of dehydrogenating primary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition is a first catalyst composition obtained by adding a potassium salt of a weak acid to a dehydrogenation catalyst containing copper as an active species.