The invention provides a start-up method for a process for the preparation of glycols from a starting material comprising one or more saccharides in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst system comprising one or more retro-aldol catalysts comprising tungsten and one or more catalytic species suitable for hydrogenation in a reactor, said method comprising introducing the one or more retro-aldol catalysts to the reactor whilst also in the presence of one or more agents suitable to suppress tungsten precipitation

The present invention relates to a photocatalyst device obtained by thin film making on solid surfaces, wherein the device comprises of titania, optionally in the form of composite with noble or transition metal(s) or metal oxides. This device (FIG. 1) is evaluated in direct sunlight for hydrogen generation (FIG. 4) and oxidation of alcohols (Table 3) using aqueous alcohol solution through water splitting and simultaneously oxidizing alcohol to oxygenated products.

The invention provides a perovskite-type oxynitride hydride which can be easily synthesized by achieving both improvement in catalytic performance and stabilization when used as a support of a catalyst. The oxynitride hydride is represented by general formula (1a) or (1b).

ABO.sub.3-xN.sub.yH.sub.z  (1a)

AB.sub.2O.sub.4-xN.sub.yH.sub.z  (1b)

(In the above general formulas (1 a) and (1 b), A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ba and Sr; B is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ce, La and Y; x represents a number represented by 0.2≤x≤2.0; y represents a number represented by 0.1≤y≤1.0; and z represents a number represented by 0.1≤z≤1.0.)

The invention provides a process for the preparation of ethylene glycol and 1, 2-propylene glycol from starting material comprising one or more saccharides, wherein the process comprises the steps of i) providing the starting material and hydrogen to a first reactor, which first reactor operates with mixing; ii) reacting said starting material and hydrogen in the first reactor in the presence of solvent and a catalyst system; iii) continuously removing a first reactor product stream from the first reactor; iv) supplying at least a portion of the first reactor product stream to a second reactor, which reactor operates essentially in a plug flow manner; and v) further reacting the first reactor product stream with hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and optionally a catalyst system in the second reactor.

Disclosed is a direct synthesis method of nanostructured catalyst particles on surfaces of various supports. In the disclosed synthesis method of a catalyst structure having a plurality of nanostructured catalyst particles dispersed in a support by a one-step process using a high-temperature high-pressure closed reactor, the one-step process includes supplying the support and a catalyst source into the high-temperature high-pressure closed reactor; supplying an atmosphere forming gas of the reactor into the reactor; perfectly sealing the high-temperature high-pressure closed reactor and heating the reactor to produce the catalyst structure in the reactor under self-generated pressure and synthesis temperature conditions, the catalyst structure including the plurality of nanostructured catalyst particles dispersed in the support; removing internal gases of the reactor to allow the reactor to be in a high-temperature, atmospheric pressure state and supplying an inert gas into the reactor to remove unreacted materials and byproducts remaining in the reactor; and cooling the reactor to room temperature while supplying the inert gas to synthesize the catalyst structure.

A catalytic system is provided which comprises a tubular reactor and at least one catalyst particle located within the tubular reactor. The catalyst particles have a particular geometric form which promotes heat transfer with the tubular reactor. Certain specific catalyst particles are also provided.

A process prepares dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylates by ring hydrogenation of the corresponding dialkyl terephthalate having a CO value of less than 0.3 mg KOH/g. The dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylates thus produced can be used as plasticizers or as a component of a plasticizer composition for plastics, in particular PVC.

A process is described for converting hydroxymethylfurfural to furanic products inclusive of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, comprising combining a quantity of hydroxymethylfurfural with water to provide an aqueous solution containing at least about five percent by weight of hydroxymethylfurfural, and combining the aqueous solution with an oxygen source in the presence of a heterogeneous ruthenium-based catalyst and under conditions which are effective for oxidizing hydroxymethylfurfural to furanic oxidation products inclusive of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, but in the substantial absence of any solvent for either hydroxymethylfurfural or 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid other than water.

A sulfur-resistant, high activity methane oxidation catalyst for use in removing methane from gas streams having a concentration of methane by oxidizing the methane. The methane oxidation catalyst is especially useful in processing gas streams that also have a concentration of a sulfur compound. The sulfur-resistant methane oxidation catalyst includes a unique multi-crystalline zirconia as a support for a platinum component and a ruthenium component. The multi-crystalline zirconia contributes to the excellent properties of the catalyst. The platinum and ruthenium components can be included in the methane oxidation catalyst in a specific weight ratio that also contributes to the enhanced properties of the catalyst. The sulfur-resistant methane oxidation catalyst may also include a chloride component that contributes to enhanced properties of the catalyst.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a catalyst with which it is possible to obtain a supported metal ammonia synthesis catalyst, in which there are restrictions in terms of producing method and producing facility, and particularly large restrictions for industrial-scale producing, in a more simple manner and so that the obtained catalyst has a high activity. This method for manufacturing an ammonia synthesis catalyst includes: a first step for preparing 12CaO.7Al.sub.2O.sub.3 having a specific surface area of 5 m.sup.2/g or above; a second step for supporting a ruthenium compound on the 12CaO.7Al.sub.2O.sub.3; and a third step for performing a reduction process on the 12CaO.7Al.sub.2O.sub.3 supporting the ruthenium compound, obtained in the second step. This invention is characterized in that the reduction process is performed until the average particle diameter of the ruthenium after the reduction process has increased by at least 15% in relation to the average particle diameter of the ruthenium before the reduction process.