Provided are particle size-controlled, chromium oxide particles or composite particles of iron oxide-chromium alloy and chromium oxide; a preparation method thereof; and use thereof, in which the chromium oxide particles or the composite particles of iron oxide-chromium alloy and chromium oxide having a desired particle size are prepared in a simpler and more efficient manner by using porous carbon material particles having a large pore volume as a sacrificial template. When the chromium oxide particles or the composite particles of iron oxide-chromium alloy and chromium oxide thus obtained are applied to gas-phase and liquid-phase catalytic reactions, they are advantageous in terms of diffusion of reactants due to particle uniformity, high-temperature stability may be obtained, and excellent reaction results may be obtained under severe reaction environment.

A method of preparing M-NC catalysts utilizing a sacrificial support approach and inexpensive and readily available polymer precursors as the source of nitrogen and carbon is disclosed. Exemplary polymer precursors include non-porphyrin precursors with no initial catalytic activity. Examples of suitable non-catalytic non-porphyrin precursors include, but are not necessarily limited to low molecular weight precursors that form complexes with iron such as 4-aminoantipirine, phenylenediamine, hydroxysuccinimide, ethanolamine, and the like.

A process for preparing a catalyst, including the reactive milling of a first reagent, which is a chromium oxide compound, with a second reagent, which is a compound of the formula M.sub.zM.sub.1-zO.sub.xF.sub.y, M and M each being an element having an oxidation state greater than or equal to 0, z being from 0 to 1, x being from 0 to 3, y being from 0 to 6, and 2x+y being greater than 0 and less than or equal to 6.

The present invention relates to a fluorination process, comprising: an activation stage comprising contacting a fluorination catalyst with an oxidizing agent-containing gas flow for at least one hour; and at least one reaction stage comprising reacting a chlorinated compound with hydrogen fluoride in gas phase in the presence of the fluorination catalyst, so as to produce a fluorinated compound.

The effects of different perovskite catalysts, catalytic active materials with a crystal structure of ABO.sub.3, on matrix stabilized combustion in a porous ceramic media are explored. Highly porous silicon carbide ceramics are used as a porous media for a catalytically enhanced matrix stabilized combustion of a lean mixture of methane and air. A stainless steel combustion chamber was designed incorporating a window for direct observation of the flame within the porous media. Perovskite catalytic enhancement of SiC porous matrix with La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.35Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.4O3; La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.95Ru0.05O3; La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.95Ru0.05O3; and LaFe0.95Ru0.05O3, for example, were used to enhance combustion. The flammability limits of the combustion of methane and air were explored using both inert and catalytically enhanced surfaces of the porous ceramic media. By coating the SiC porous media with perovskite catalysts it was possible to lower the minimum stable equivalence ratio.

The invention relates to converting non-aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of CO.sub.2 to produce aromatic hydrocarbon. CO.sub.2 methanation using molecular hydrogen produced during the aromatization increases aromatic hydrocarbon yield. The invention also relates to equipment and materials useful in such upgrading, to processes for carrying out such upgrading, and to the use of such processes for, e.g., natural gas upgrading.

A selective nickel-based hydrogenation catalyst and the preparation thereof, characterized in that: provided that the catalyst is weighed 100%, it comprises nickel oxide 14-20% as active component, lanthanum oxide and/or cerium oxide 2-8%, and VIB element oxide 1-8% as aids, 2-8% silica, 1-8% alkaline earth metal oxides, and alumina as the balance. The catalyst specific surface area is 60-150 m.sup.2/g, and the pore volume is 0.4-0.6 ml/g. The catalyst has good hydrogenation performance, especially impurity and colloid resistance and hydrogenation stability. The catalyst can be applied to the diolefin selective hydrogenation of medium or low-distillate oil, especially of the full-distillates pyrolysis gasoline.

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material, in the form of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor and/or catalyst. The invention also extends to the use of a catalyst precursor and/or catalyst prepared by the method according to the invention in a hydrocarbon synthesis process, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis process. According to this invention, a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material includes the steps of treating Fe(II) carboxylate in solution with an oxidizing agent to convert it to Fe(III) carboxylate in solution under conditions which ensure that such oxidation does not take place simultaneously with any dissolution of Fe(0); and hydrolyzing the Fe(III) carboxylate solution resulting from step (iii) and precipitating one or more Fe(III) hydrolysis products.

The present invention relates to a process for the liquid phase activation of catalysts. Such activated catalysts have particular utility in hydrogenation of aldehydes to alcohols. As such, the present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation of aldehydes to alcohols in the presence of a catalyst which has been activated in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention.

A process for the production of bis(pyrrolidino)butane (BPB), the process comprising the reaction of pyrrolidine (PYR) in the presence of hydrogen, a heterogeneous catalyst (catalyst) and optionally 1,4-butanediole (BDO) in the liquid phase.