In a process for producing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes and/or (dimethylcyclohexyl)xylenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is then dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds.

Disclosed are a composite metal catalyst composition capable of increasing efficiency and economic feasibility of a reaction through simplification of a reaction process, and providing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol with high purity for a shorter time while minimizing byproducts; and a method and apparatus for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol with high purity using the same. The present invention provides a composite metal catalyst composition for converting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid into an alicyclic diol compound, the composition containing: a first metal catalyst including a palladium (Pd) compound; and a second metal catalyst including a ruthenium (Ru) compound, a tin (Sn) compound, and a platinum (Pt) compound, and a method and apparatus for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol using the same.

A cold start catalyst is disclosed. The cold start catalyst comprises a zeolite catalyst and a supported platinum group metal catalyst. The zeolite catalyst comprises a base metal, a noble metal, and a zeolite. The supported platinum group metal catalyst comprises one or more platinum group metals and one or more inorganic oxide carriers. The invention also includes an exhaust system comprising the cold start catalyst. The cold start catalyst and the process result in improved NO.sub.x storage and NO.sub.x conversion, improved hydrocarbon storage and conversion, and improved CO oxidation through the cold start period.

Disclosed are a composite metal catalyst composition capable of increasing efficiency and economic feasibility of a reaction through simplification of a reaction process, and providing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol with high purity for a shorter time while minimizing byproducts; and a method and apparatus for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol with high purity using the same. The present invention provides a composite metal catalyst composition for converting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid into an alicyclic diol compound, the composition containing: a first metal catalyst including a palladium (Pd) compound; and a second metal catalyst including a ruthenium (Ru) compound, a tin (Sn) compound, and a platinum (Pt) compound, and a method and apparatus for preparing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol using the same.

Process for the preparation of a catalyst suitable for use in a naphtha reforming process, the process including providing a Y zeolite with an initial SiO.sub.2:Al.sub.2O.sub.3 molar ratio of at least 150, introducing the Y zeolite to a binder to form an intermediate composition, extruding the intermediate composition, reducing the alpha acidity of the extruded composition to provide a low acid composition, and introducing a noble metal to the low acid composition. Processes and systems of converting naphtha to a higher-octane hydrocarbon supply using catalysts, as prepared herein, are also disclosed.

There are provided methods for the valorization of carbohydrates. The methods comprise reacting a fluid comprising at least one carbohydrate with at least one metal catalyst or at least one metal catalytic system in a fluidized bed reactor so as to obtain at least one organic acid or a derivative thereof.

An aftertreatment system utilizes chemical reactions to treat an exhaust gas flow. A device for use within an aftertreatment system includes a silver-based NOx storage catalyst and a zeolite. The silver-based NOx storage catalyst and the zeolite store NOx through a low temperature startup period of operation. In one embodiment, the zeolite includes a barium Y zeolite.

In a process for producing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes and/or (dimethylcyclohexyl)xylenes together with dialkylated C.sub.21+ compounds. At least part of the dialkylated C.sub.21+ compounds is then removed from the hydroalkylation reaction product to produce a dehydrogenation feed; and at least part of the dehydrogenation feed is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds.

In a process for producing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes and/or (dimethylcyclohexyl)xylenes together with dialkylated C.sub.21+ compounds. At least part of the dialkylated C.sub.21+ compounds is then removed from the hydroalkylation reaction product to produce a dehydrogenation feed; and at least part of the dehydrogenation feed is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds.

Improved alkylation catalysts, alkylation methods, and methods of making alkylation catalysts are described. The alkylation method comprises reaction over a solid acid, zeolite-based catalyst and can be conducted for relatively long periods at steady state conditions. The alkylation catalyst comprises a crystalline zeolite structure, a Si/Al molar ratio of 20 or less, less than 0.5 weight percent alkali metals, and further having a characteristic catalyst life property. Some catalysts may contain rare earth elements in the range of 10 to 35 wt %. One method of making a catalyst includes a calcination step following exchange of the rare earth element(s) conducted at a temperature of at least 575 C. to stabilize the resulting structure followed by an deammoniation treatment. An improved method of deammoniation uses low temperature oxidation.