A system suitable for oxidizing ammonia with oxygen in the presence of catalysts is described. The system includes a reactor equipped with at least one supply line for a reactant gas mixture and at least one discharge line for a process gas; a catalyst comprising at least one transition metal oxide that is not an oxide of a platinum metal; and a device for adjusting a molar ratio of oxygen to ammonia of less than or equal to 1.75 mol/mol in the reactant gas mixture by mixing an oxygen-containing gas stream having an O.sub.2 content of <20% by volume with a chosen amount of ammonia. The oxygen-containing gas stream is produced by a device for: diluting an air stream with a gas stream comprising less than 20% by volume oxygen; or depleting oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas mixture, preferably from air; or by a combination thereof.

A biotemplated nanomaterial can include a crystalline perovskite.

A system suitable for oxidizing ammonia with oxygen in the presence of catalysts is described. The system includes a reactor equipped with at least one supply line for a reactant gas mixture and at least one discharge line for a process gas; a catalyst comprising at least one transition metal oxide that is not an oxide of a platinum metal; and a device for adjusting a molar ratio of oxygen to ammonia of less than or equal to 1.75 mol/mol in the reactant gas mixture by mixing an oxygen-containing gas stream having an O.sub.2 content of <20% by volume with a chosen amount of ammonia. The oxygen-containing gas stream is produced by a device for: diluting an air stream with a gas stream comprising less than 20% by volume oxygen; or depleting oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas mixture, preferably from air; or by a combination thereof.

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.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

Nano-sized mixed metal oxide catalysts capable of producing methanol (CH.sub.3OH) from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and hydrogen (H.sub.2) or from carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H.sub.2), methods of making the catalyst, and uses thereof are described herein. The nano-sized mixed metal oxide catalysts can have a formula of: [Cu.sub.aZn.sub.bAl.sub.cM.sub.d.sup.1]O.sub.n where a is 20 to 80, b is 15 to 60, c is 1 to 25, d is 0 to 15 and n is determined by the oxidation states of the other elements is determined by the oxidation states, and M.sup.1 can be yttrium (Y), cerium (Ce), tin (Sn), sodium (Na), bismuth (Bi), magnesium (Mg), or gadolinium (Gd).

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.

A method of oxidative dehydrogenating a butane-containing hydrocarbon stream by contacting the same with a bimetallic catalyst in the presence of an oxidant, wherein the bimetallic catalyst comprises nickel and bismuth on a titanium carbide catalyst support. Various embodiments of the method of oxidative dehydrogenating the butane-containing hydrocarbon stream and the bimetallic catalyst are also provided.