Methods and catalysts for producing benzyl alcohol and homologues thereof from short-chain alcohols by catalytic conversion are disclosed. The methods and catalysts develop a new route for benzyl alcohols and ethyl benzyl alcohols production through cross coupling-aromatization reaction using short-chain alcohols as reactants and provide corresponding catalysts required for the above catalytic reaction. It is emphasized on a single bed catalyst to produce benzyl alcohol and its homologues in one step, and is expected to become an important alternative route for the production of benzyl alcohol and its homologues. A route and corresponding catalysts for directly producing benzyl alcohol and ethyl benzyl alcohol through coupling-aromatization reaction starting from low carbon alcohols are provided. The selectivity of the benzyl alcohol is up to 35%, and the total selectivity of the ethyl benzyl alcohol is up to 11%.

Provided is a catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation characterized in that rhodium and molybdenum are supported on hydroxyapatite, the catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation providing a catalyst that can promote a reduction reaction that converts an amide compound into an amine compound, can be used under moderate conditions, and has durability that allows repeated use thereof while retaining high activity. Also provided is a method for producing an amine compound, the method being characterized by including bringing an amide compound into contact with the catalyst for amide compound hydrogenation to cause hydrogenation, thereby producing an amine compound.

A transesterification catalyst that is heterogeneous and a method for preparing said transesterification catalyst are provided. The catalyst can be used in a variety of transesterification reactor configurations including CSTR (continuous stirred tank reactors), ebullated (or ebullating) beds or any other fluidized bed reactors, and PFR (plug flow, fixed bed reactors). The catalyst can be used for manufacturing commercial grade biodiesel, biolubricants and glycerin.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for selectively producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, the method including reducing a dicarboxylic acid monoester by means of a heterogeneous reaction. According to a method for producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester in an embodiment of the present invention, a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester represented by Formula (2) is produced by reducing a substrate dicarboxylic acid monoester represented by Formula (1) in the presence of a catalyst.

The catalyst comprises: metal species including M.sub.1 and M.sub.2; and a support supporting the metal species, and wherein M.sub.1 is rhodium, platinum, ruthenium, iridium or palladium; M.sub.2 is tin, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten or rhenium; and the support is hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, or hydrotalcite.

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A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons CO to CO.sub.2 is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO.sub.2 to produce a stream enriched in CO.sub.2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO.sub.2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

The present invention refers to catalysts that are selective for the reaction of ODH of propane to propene. Said catalysts are potassium salts of the dodecatungstophosphate ion partially substituted with vanadium and niobium, or mixed oxides of W, V, and Nb, with a tungsten bronze structure, obtained by thermal decomposition of polyoxometalate salts with a Keggin structure.

This disclosure provides for routes of synthesis of acrylic acid and other α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids and their salts, including catalytic methods. For example, there is provided a process for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof, the process comprising: (1) contacting in any order, a group 8-11 transition metal precursor, an olefin, carbon dioxide, a diluent, and a metal-treated chemically-modified solid oxide such as a sulfur oxoacid anion-modified solid oxide, a phosphorus oxoacid anion-modified solid oxide, or a halide ion-modified solid oxide, to provide a reaction mixture; and (2) applying reaction conditions to the reaction mixture suitable to produce the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid or the salt thereof. Methods of regenerating the metal-treated chemically-modified solid oxide are described.

A method of removing CO from a mixture of CO and saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons is provided. In one embodiment, the method is to contact a feed stream with an oxygen transfer agent; and then oxidize at least a portion of the CO to CO.sub.2 to produce a stream enriched in CO.sub.2. The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not further oxidized during the oxidation. The oxygen transfer agent includes at least one of: i) water; ii) at least one reducible metal oxide; iii) at least one reducible chalcogen; or mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the CO is converted to methane. The unsaturated hydrocarbons in the feed are not hydrogenated. In both of these alternatives, the CO.sub.2 or methane are then removed. Systems for removing the CO are also provided.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic that comprises: —making available at least one amorphous metal; —making available a biomimetic material or a biomaterial based on calcium phosphate; —functionalizing said biomimetic material or said biomaterial based on calcium phosphate, with said at least one amorphous metal, obtaining a functionalized and oriented composite; —adding said functionalized composite to a ceramic mixture, and/or applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product, where ceramic semi-finished product means the ceramic material before baking; —applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product; —baking at a temperature between 600 and 1400° C., preferably between 900 and 1300° C., for a time that varies from 20 to 500 minutes, obtaining an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic. The present invention further relates to a photocatalytic ceramic material that comprises a biomimetic material having a nanostructured hierarchical structure with macro and micro cavities, within which at least one photocatalytic material selected from metal oxides and/or sulphides in the crystalline form with a rutile-like structure is included, and tiles, sanitary ware and tableware comprising the same.

The present invention relates to a method for producing an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic that comprises: making available amorphous Ti; making available a biomimetic material or a biomaterial based on calcium phosphate; functionalizing said biomimetic material or said biomaterial based on calcium phosphate, with said amorphous Ti, obtaining a functionalized and oriented composite; adding said functionalized composite to a ceramic mixture, and/or applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product, where ceramic semi-finished product means the ceramic material before baking; applying said functionalized composite on a ceramic semi-finished product; baking at a temperature between 600 and 1400° C., preferably between 900 and 1300° C., for a time that varies from 20 to 500 minutes, obtaining an antibacterial photocatalytic ceramic. The present invention further relates to a photocatalytic ceramic material that comprises a biomimetic material having a nanostructured hierarchical structure with macro and micro cavities, within which TiO.sub.2 is included in the crystalline form of rutile, and tiles, sanitary ware and tableware comprising same.