A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous/heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.

The present invention is in the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Particularly, the present invention relates to a process for preparing catalysts advantageously usable in the hydrotreatment processes, for example in hydrodesulphurization, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodearomatization processes of hydrocarbons. More in particular, the present invention relates to a process for obtaining said catalysts, which comprise mixed oxides of Nickel, Aluminum, Molybdenum and Tungsten and optionally a transition metal Me selected from the group consisting of Zn, Mn, Cd, and a mixture thereof, an organic component C, and possibly an inorganic binder B. Said mixed oxides comprise an amorphous phase and a pseudo-crystalline phase isostructural to Wolframite. The present invention further relates to said hydrotreatment catalysts and a hydrotreatment process wherein said catalysts are used.

A method for preparing a metal-free few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial. The method comprises an ice-assisted exfoliation process (or solvent ice-assisted exfoliation process). The method allows for the preparation of a few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial with improved yield and reduced duration and exfoliation power. The few-layer phosphorous nanomaterial is used in the preparation of a photocatalyst. The photocatalyst exhibits a long-term stability, high photocatalytic H.sub.2 evolution efficiency from water, and good stability under visible light irradiation.

A process for the preparation of a catalyst from a catalytic precursor comprising a support based on alumina and/or silica-alumina and/or zeolite and comprising at least one element of group VIB and optionally at least one element of group VIII, by impregnation of said precursor with a solution of a C1-C4 dialkyl succinate. An impregnation step for impregnation of said precursor which is dried, calcined or regenerated, with at least one solution containing at least one carboxylic acid other than acetic acid, then maturing and drying at a temperature less than or equal to 200° C., optionally a heat treatment at a temperature lower than 350° C., followed by an impregnation step with a solution containing at least one C1-C4 dialkyl succinate followed by maturing and drying at a temperature less than 200° C. without subsequent calcination step. The catalyst is used in hydrotreatment and/or hydroconversion.

A process for the preparation of a catalyst from a catalytic precursor comprising a support based on alumina and/or silica-alumina and/or zeolite and comprising at least one element of group VIB and optionally at least one element of group VIII, by impregnation of said precursor with a solution of a C1-C4 dialkyl succinate. An impregnation step for impregnation of said precursor which is dried, calcined or regenerated, with at least one solution containing at least one carboxylic acid other than acetic acid, then maturing and drying at a temperature less than or equal to 200° C., optionally a heat treatment at a temperature lower than 350° C., followed by an impregnation step with a solution containing at least one C1-C4 dialkyl succinate followed by maturing and drying at a temperature less than 200° C. without subsequent calcination step. The catalyst is used in hydrotreatment and/or hydroconversion.

The present development is a metal particle coated nanowire catalyst for use in the hydrodesulfurization of fuels and a process for the production of the catalyst. The catalyst comprises titanium(IV) oxide nanowires wherein the nanowires are produced by exposure of a TiO.sub.2—KOH paste to microwave radiation. Metal particles selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, or a combination thereof, are impregnated on the metal oxide nanowire surface. The metal impregnated nanowires are sulfided to produce catalytically-active metal particles on the surface of the nanowires The catalysts of the present invention are intended for use in the removal of thiophenic sulfur from liquid fuels through a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process in a fixed bed reactor. The presence of nanowires improves the HDS activity and reduces the sintering effect, therefore, the sulfur removal efficiency increases.

A method of preparing hydrodesulfurization catalysts having cobalt and molybdenum sulfide deposited on a support material containing mesoporous silica. The method utilizes a sulfur-containing silane that dually functions as a silica source and a sulfur precursor. The method involves an one-pot strategy for hydrothermal treatment and a single-step calcination and sulfidation procedure. The application of the hydrodesulfurization catalysts in treating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur compounds to produce a desulfurized hydrocarbon stream is also specified.

A method of preparing hydrodesulfurization catalysts having cobalt and molybdenum sulfide deposited on a support material containing mesoporous silica. The method utilizes a sulfur-containing silane that dually functions as a silica source and a sulfur precursor. The method involves an one-pot strategy for hydrothermal treatment and a single-step calcination and sulfidation procedure. The application of the hydrodesulfurization catalysts in treating a hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur compounds to produce a desulfurized hydrocarbon stream is also specified.

The present application relates to a hydrogenation catalyst, a process for producing the same and application thereof in the hydrotreatment of feedstock oil. The process comprises at least the following steps: (1) contacting a first active metal component and a first organic complexing agent with a carrier to obtain a composite carrier; (2) calcining the composite carrier to obtain a calcined composite carrier having a total carbon content of 1% by weight or less; and (3) contacting a second organic complexing agent with the calcined composite carrier to obtain the hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst has both excellent hydrodesulfurization activity and hydrodenitrogenation activity, and exhibits a significantly prolonged service life.

A visible light-reactive photocatalyst includes: a metal-organic framework (MOF) including pores; and an active material doped on the surface of the metal-organic framework, wherein the active material includes molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub.2) or titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2).