Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.

The present invention is directed to the preparation of a cobalt containing catalyst, a precipitate as an intermediate product, a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas. The precipitate and catalyst comprise crystalline Co(OH)(CO3)0.5, the crystals are needle shaped and have a surface area of at least 80 m.sup.2/g dry precipitate.

The present invention relates to a catalytically active composition for the selective methanation of carbon monoxide in reformate streams comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide, comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, nickel and cobalt as active component and rhenium as dopant on a support material. The catalyst according to the invention is preferably used for carrying out methanation reactions in a temperature range from 100 to 300 C. for use in the production of hydrogen for fuel cell applications.

Copper-containing, multimetallic catalysts with either a zirconia or carbon support are described which have improved utility for the hydrogenolysis of a glycerol or glycerol-containing feedstock to provide a biobased 1,2-propanediol product. specially, improved carbon-supported examples of such catalysts are described for this reaction as well as for other processes wherein hydrogen is used, with methods for maintaining the activity of these catalysts. Related treatment methods in the preparation of these improved catalysts enable the use of carbons with a desired mechanical strength but which previously lacked activity, for example, for the conversion of a glycerol or glycerol-containing feed to produce 1,2-propanediol, so that copper-containing, multi-metallic catalysts may be employed for making a biobased propylene glycol using carbon supports that previously would have not been suitable.

Processes for producing neopentane are disclosed herein. Processes comprise demethylating a C.sub.6-C.sub.8 alkane within a shell and tube reactor to produce a demethylation product including at least 10 wt % neopentane based on the weight of the demethylation product.

Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.

Provided is a catalyst including a metal component including a first component that is rhenium and one or more second components selected from the group consisting of silicon, gallium, germanium, and indium and a carrier on which the metal component is supported, the carrier including an oxide of a metal belonging to Group 4 of the periodic table. Also provided is an alcohol production method in which a carbonyl compound is treated using the above catalyst. It is possible to produce an alcohol by a hydrogenation reaction of a carbonyl compound with high selectivity and high efficiency while reducing side reactions.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to two improved catalysts and associated processes that directly converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to liquid fuels. The catalytic converter is comprised of two catalysts in series that are operated at the same pressures to directly produce synthetic liquid fuels or synthetic natural gas. The carbon conversion efficiency for CO.sub.2 to liquid fuels is greater than 45%. The fuel is distilled into a premium diesel fuels (approximately 70 volume %) and naphtha (approximately 30 volume %) which are used directly as drop-in fuels without requiring any further processing. Any light hydrocarbons that are present with the carbon dioxide are also converted directly to fuels. This process is directly applicable to the conversion of CO.sub.2 collected from ethanol plants, cement plants, power plants, biogas, carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon mixtures from secondary oil recovery, and other carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon streams. The catalyst system is durable, efficient and maintains a relatively constant level of fuel productivity over long periods of time without requiring re-activation or replacement.

Processes for producing neopentane are disclosed herein. Processes comprise demethylating a C.sub.6-C.sub.8 alkane within a shell and tube reactor to produce a demethylation product including at least 10 wt % neopentane based on the weight of the demethylation product.

Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.