Provided is a method capable of producing an olefin with high selectivity and high yield using a vicinal diol as a raw material. A method for producing an olefin includes a step of reacting a compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with hydrogen and forming an olefin, and in this step, the reaction of the compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with the hydrogen proceeds in the presence of a catalyst under a condition substantially free of a solvent. The catalyst includes a carrier, at least one oxide supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of oxides of group-6 elements and oxides of group-7 elements, and at least one metal supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of silver, iridium, and gold.

The present invention is directed to a shaped catalyst body for preparing ethylene oxide, which comprises at least silver, cesium and rhenium applied to an alumina support, wherein the alumina support comprises Si, Ca, and Mg in a defined amount. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing the catalyst according to the present invention and process for preparing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene by means of oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body according to the present invention.

A carrier for an ethylene epoxidation catalyst, the carrier comprising a porous alumina body formed of sintered particles of alumina in a substantial absence of inorganic binder species other than alumina, wherein the substantial absence of inorganic binder species corresponds to an amount of less than 0.6 wt % inorganic binder species other than alumina and comprises at least a substantial absence of silicon-containing species.

A catalyst for decomposing an organic substance, the catalyst having a body which has a plurality of pores and the body contains a perovskite-type composite oxide represented by A.sub.xB.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.w, where the A contains at least one selected from Ba and Sr, the B contains Zr, the M is at least one selected from Mn, Co, Ni, and Fe, 1.001≤x≤1.1, 0.05≤z≤0.2, y+z=1, and w is a positive value that satisfies electrical neutrality. The average pore diameter of the plurality of pores is 49 nm to 260 nm and the pore volume of each of the plurality of pores is 0.08 cm.sup.3/g to 0.37 cm.sup.3/g.

A porous ceramic body is provided for a variety of applications. The porous ceramic body includes mesocrystals of alumina such as, for example, alpha alumina. Porous alpha alumina bodies containing the mesocrystal microstructure can provide enhanced activity and catalyst lifetime when the same is used as a carrier for a silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst.

The present invention is directed to a shaped catalyst body for preparing ethylene oxide, which comprises at least silver, cesium and rhenium applied to an alumina support, wherein the alumina support comprises Si, Ca, and Mg in a defined amount. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing the catalyst according to the present invention and process for preparing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene by means of oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body according to the present invention.

Provided is a catalyst for reduction reaction with which 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran can be obtained with higher selectivity than with the related art, using a raw material derived from biomass. The catalyst is used in a reduction reaction of 3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen, wherein the catalyst contains metal catalysts (1) and (2) below; metal catalyst (1): a catalyst containing M1 and M2 below as metal species and supported on a carrier; and metal catalyst (2): a catalyst containing M1 below as a metal species and supported on a carrier; M1: one or more selected from the group consisting of iron and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 5 to 7 of the periodic table; and M2: one or more selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 9 to 11 of the periodic table.

The present invention provides a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, comprising an alumina support and 20 to 45%by weight of the catalyst, of silver applied to the support, the catalyst meeting the following limitations (i) to (v): (i) an amount of cesium c(Cs) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 2; (ii) an amount of rhenium c(Re) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 3.0; (iii) an amount of tungsten c(W) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 1.6; (iv) a silicon to alkaline earth metal molar ratio x of not higher than 1.80; (v) c(Cs)c(Re)c(W)4.Math.x0.5.

A method for preparing a silver impregnation solution comprises (a) charging a neutralization reactor R1 with an aqueous organic amine; (b) adding oxalic acid powder through a first feeding conduit to the neutralization reactor R1 to obtain an aqueous oxalic acid-organic amine solution; (c) directing the aqueous oxalic acid-organic amine solution from the neutralization reactor to a complexation reactor R2; (d) adding particulate silver oxide through a second feeding conduit to the complexation reactor R2 to obtain a silver impregnation solution; and, optionally, (e) subjecting the silver impregnation solution to filtration. The silver impregnation solution is used for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide. The method allows for the preparation of a silver impregnation solution in an efficient and occupationally and environmentally safe way. Security hazards which can occur when oxalic acid and silver oxide are added to an aqueous amine solution using the same powder feeding equipment or the same reactor are avoided.

A supported catalyst for decomposing an organic substance that includes a support and a catalyst particle supported on the support. The catalyst particle contains a perovskite-type composite oxide represented by A.sub.xB.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.w, where the A contains at least one selected from Ba and Sr, the B contains Zr, the M is at least one selected from Mn, Co, Ni and Fe, y+z=1, x0.995, z0.4, and w is a positive value satisfying electrical neutrality. A film thickness of a catalyst-supporting film supported on the support and containing the catalyst particle is 5 m or more, or a supported amount as determined by normalizing a mass of the catalyst particle supported on the support by a volume of the support is 45 g/L or more.