Disclosed are methods for synthesizing an ester or a carboxylic acid from an organic alcohol. To form the ester one reacts, in the presence of oxygen gas, the alcohol with methanol or ethanol. This reaction occurs in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium and a co-catalyst comprising bismuth, tellurium, lead, cerium, titanium, zinc and/or niobium (most preferably at least bismuth and tellurium). Alternatively that catalyst can be used to generate an acid from that alcohol, when water is also added to the reaction mix.

A three-way catalyst article, and its use in an exhaust system for internal combustion engines, is disclosed. The catalyst article for treating exhaust gas comprising: a substrate comprising an inlet end and an outlet end with an axial length L; and a first catalytic region on the substrate; wherein the first catalytic region comprises a first PGM component and a first alumina, wherein the first alumina is doped with a first dopant of at least 5 wt. %, and wherein the first dopant is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ta, Mo, W, Ti, Nb, and a combination thereof.

The invention provides electro-catalyst compositions for an anode electrode of a proton exchange membrane-based water electrolysis system. The compositions include a noble metal component selected from the group consisting of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide and mixtures thereof, and a non-noble metal component selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, cooper oxide, zirconium oxide, nickel oxide and mixtures thereof. Further, the non-noble metal component can include a dopant. The dopant can be at least one element selected from Groups III, V, VI and VII of the Periodic Table. The compositions can be prepared using a surfactant approach or a sol gel approach. Further, the compositions are prepared using noble metal and non-noble metal precursors. Furthermore, a thin film containing the compositions can be deposited onto a substrate to form the anode electrode.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas purification catalyst having an improved NOx purification performance in a lean atmosphere; and a method for producing the same. The method for producing an exhaust gas purification catalyst according to the present invention includes sputtering a target material containing Nb and Rh to produce fine composite-metal particles containing Nb and Rh.

Niobia- and tantala-doped ceria catalysts, their use in selective catalytic reduction (SCR) processes, and a compact after-treatment system for exhaust gases are disclosed. In some aspects, the catalyst comprises at least 91 wt. % of ceria and 0.1 to 9 wt. % of niobia or tantala doped on the ceria. While conventional SCR catalysts can deactivate at higher temperatures, the doped cerias, particularly ones having as little as 1 or 2 wt. % of Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 or Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, are activated toward NOx conversion by calcination. The doped cerias are also valuable for SCRF catalyzed filter applications, including an after-treatment system that comprises a diesel particulate filter having inlets and outlets, and a dual-function catalyst coated on the inlets, outlets, or both. Compared with conventional SCR catalysts, the niobia or tantala-doped cerias enable a higher level of NO.sub.2 to be present.

The present invention is concerned with the use of certain oxygen storage components. In particular, the use of special mixed oxides as oxygen storage components in exhaust catalysis is disclosed.

The present invention is concerned with oxygen storage materials. In particular an oxygen storage material (OSM) is proposed which comprises a certain mixed oxide as the oxygen storage component. The oxygen storage material can be used in conventional manner in three-way catalysts or NOx-storage catalysts for example.

The present disclosure provides a catalyst for the production of percarboxylic acids which includes a co-catalyst 1 being either a transition metal oxide or carbonaceous compound and a second co-catalyst 2, distinct from co-catalyst 1 and being comprised of at least one transition metal, transition metal oxide, transition metal carbide or transition metal nitride. The combination of these co-catalysts provides the necessary kinds of catalytic active sites for both the chemisorption and activation of formic acid as well as active sites for the generation of surface active oxygen species. The combination of these co-catalyst materials results in the synergistic benefits of enhancement in catalytic activity for the production of the peracid as well as improved catalyst stability.

The present disclosure relates to a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst and a preparation method thereof. Specifically, the hydrodeoxygenation catalyst contains a hydrogenation active component and a catalyst carrier, the hydrogenation active component contains one or more hydrogenation active metals that comprise Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ni, Co, Cu, or a combination thereof, and the catalyst carrier is a solid solution composite oxide containing A1, Nb, Si, and O elements, and the catalyst carrier is represented by a chemical formula (Nb.sub.2O.sub.5).sub.x.Math.(Al.sub.2O.sub.3).sub.y.Math.(SiO.sub.2).sub.z, wherein 0.01x0.3, 0.01y0.1 and 0.6z0.98.

A process for producing an ether including treating (a) an ester with (b) hydrogen in the presence of (c) a heterogeneous catalyst to reduce the ester by hydrogenation to form an ether product.