Method to prepare a catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal; and in that the average particle size of said noble metal phase is, preferably at least 0.05 nm, and less than 5 nm as determined by STEM-EDX, characterized in that the catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of a saline solution at a pH above 8.5 comprising an indium salt and a salt of the at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal and optionally further comprising a salt of the at least one alkaline earth metal.

Method to prepare a catalyst for use in a process for the synthesis of methanol, comprising indium oxide in the form of In.sub.2O.sub.3, and at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal; and in that the average particle size of said noble metal phase is, preferably at least 0.05 nm, and less than 5 nm as determined by STEM-EDX, characterized in that the catalyst is prepared by co-precipitation of a saline solution at a pH above 8.5 comprising an indium salt and a salt of the at least one additional metal selected from a noble metal and optionally further comprising a salt of the at least one alkaline earth metal.

A process for oxidizing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds comprises contacting a mixture comprising isomers of at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound with a source of oxygen, wherein the mixture comprises at least 20 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 2-position or a 3-position on at least one benzene ring and at least 50 wt % of isomer(s) having a methyl group at a 4-position on at least one benzene ring, wherein said percentages are based on the total weight of the at least one methylbiphenyl compound in the mixture.

The present invention relates to a palladium-based supported hydrogenation catalyst and a preparation method and application thereof. The catalyst is prepared by the following method: impregnating an Al.sub.2O.sub.3-containing carrier with an organic solution containing a bipyridine derivative having hydroxy group, optionally drying followed by impregnating with a mixed solution containing the main active component palladium ions and the auxiliary active component M.sup.n+ ions, where M is one selected from Ag, Au, Ni, Pb and Cu; and then optionally drying, and calcining to obtain the catalyst. The preparation method provided by the present invention allows Pd atoms and M atoms to be highly uniformly dispersed on the carrier, which overcomes the adverse impact of the surface tension of the impregnation solution and the solvation effect on the dispersibility of active components. The palladium-based supported hydrogenation catalyst provided by the present invention has excellent hydrogenation activity, ethylene selectivity and anti-coking performance, and can be used in a selective hydrogenation process of C2 fraction.

An electride, which is more stable and can be more easily obtained, is provided or is made available, and as a result, a catalyst particularly useful for chemical synthesis, in which the electride is particularly used, is provided. A transition metal-supporting intermetallic compound having a transition metal supported on an intermetallic compound represented by the following formula (1): A.sub.5X.sub.3 . . . (1) wherein A represents a rare earth element, and X represents Si or Ge.

This disclosure relates to catalyst compositions including gallium and a zirconium-based mixed oxide support, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons with such catalysts. For example, in one embodiment, a catalyst composition includes a mixed oxide support comprising at least about 50 wt. % of zirconium oxide, the mixed oxide support being present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 40 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. %; and disposed on the support, gallium, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, calculated as Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 on a calcined basis.

This disclosure relates to catalyst compositions including gallium and a zirconium-based mixed oxide support, to methods for making such catalysts, and to methods for dehydrogenating hydrocarbons with such catalysts. For example, in one embodiment, a catalyst composition includes a mixed oxide support comprising at least about 50 wt. % of zirconium oxide, the mixed oxide support being present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 40 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. %; and disposed on the support, gallium, present in the composition in an amount within the range of about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %, calculated as Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 on a calcined basis.

A method for producing a dehydrogenation catalyst, comprising: a step of impregnating a carrier with a first solution having a tin source dissolved therein, so as to have tin supported on the carrier; and a step of impregnating the carrier with a second solution having an active metal source dissolved therein, so as to have the active metal supported on the carrier, wherein the tin source is at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium stannate and potassium stannate, and the active metal source has at least one active metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, ruthenium and iridium, and has no chlorine atom.

Catalysts and processes for a selective conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst comprises: a first component selected from the group consisting of Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof, a modifier selected from the group consisting of alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals and mixtures thereof, and a third component selected from the group consisting of tin, germanium, lead, indium, gallium, thallium and mixtures thereof; and a support forming a catalyst particle comprising a plurality of pores. The catalyst has a modifier profile index in a range of 1 to 1.4 across the catalyst particle.

Catalysts and processes for a selective conversion of hydrocarbons. The catalyst comprises: a first component selected from the group consisting of Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof, a modifier selected from the group consisting of alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals and mixtures thereof, and a third component selected from the group consisting of tin, germanium, lead, indium, gallium, thallium and mixtures thereof; and a support forming a catalyst particle comprising a plurality of pores. The catalyst has a modifier profile index in a range of 1 to 1.4 across the catalyst particle.