Metal oxides-silica composite materials are synthesized by a co-precipitation method to serve as modified catalysts for converting ethanol into four-carbon hydrocarbons. The method includes mixing a liquid-phase silicon source and a metal precursor at different ratios so as to change the acid-base composition of the composite materials and thereby increase selectivity with respect to the four-carbon products.

In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for forming a metal alloy catalyst. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a process for oxidizing a substrate that includes contacting a substrate with an oxidant in the presence of a metal alloy catalyst to form one or more carboxylic acids. Suitable substrates include sugars, polyols, furfural alcohols, and polyhydroxycarboxylic acids. The oxidation process may use the alloy catalyst formed from the process of the first aspect of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to the preparation of pyridine derivatives, such as -picoline or -parvoline, and catalysts useful for the selective preparation of such pyridine derivatives. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to the selective preparation of certain pyridine derivative using dealuminated zeolite catalysts.

A heterogeneous catalyst comprising a support and a noble metal, wherein said support comprises silicon, and wherein said catalyst comprises from 0.1 to 40 mol % titanium and from 0.1 to 10 mol % of at least one noble metal.

The present disclosure features a high metal cation content zeolite-based binary catalyst (e.g., a high copper and/or iron content zeolite-based binary catalyst, where the zeolite can be a chabazite) for NO.sub.x reduction, having relatively low N.sub.2O make, and having low corresponding metal oxide content; where the metal in the metal oxide corresponds to the metal of the metal cation. The present disclosure also describes the synthesis of the zeolite-based binary catalyst having high metal cation content.

A method of reducing an aromatic ring under relatively mild condition using sub-nano particles of a transition metal supported on super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). The catalyst is efficient for catalyzing the reduction of both carbocyclic and heterocyclic compound. In compound comprising both carbocyclic and heterocyclic aromatic rings, the catalyst displays high regioselectivity for the heterocyclic ring.

Processes for producing alcohols are described. The processes involve contacting a reactant feed that includes a first alcohol with a metal oxalate salt and a Cu-based catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce a product composition that includes a second alcohol. The second alcohol has a higher carbon number than the first alcohol.

An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500 C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170 C. to 360 C.

An oligomerization catalyst, oligomer products, methods for making and using same. The catalyst can include a supported nickel phosphate compound. The catalyst is stable at oligomerization temperatures of 500 C. or higher and particularly useful for making oligomer products containing C4 to C26 olefins having a boiling point in the range of 170 C. to 360 C.

Disclosed is a supported catalyst for the preparation of vinyl acetate monomer, a process for preparing the supported catalyst in tablet or pellet form, and a catalytic process for the manufacturing vinyl acetate using the supported catalyst. Specifically, it is shown that catalyst performance shows a strong dependence on the crush strength of the tableted or pelletized alumina support used in the process to make the catalyst, and that the crush strength of the catalyst is closely related to the porosity of the support. Catalyst activity and selectivity can be enhanced by tailoring the crush strength of the support.