Methods, compositions, and articles of manufacture for alkane activation with single- or bi-metallic catalysts on crystalline mixed oxide supports.

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.

The present invention provides a method for preparing 1,5-pentanediol via hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. The catalyst used in the method is prepared by supporting a noble metal and a promoter on an organic polymer supporter or an inorganic hybrid material supporter, wherein the supporter is functionalized by a nitrogen-containing ligand. When the catalyst is used in the hydrogenolysis of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to prepare 1,5-pentanediol, a good reaction activity and a high selectivity can be achieved. The promoter and the nitrogen-containing ligand in the supporter are bound to the catalyst through coordination, thereby the loss of the promoter is significantly decreased, and the catalyst has a particularly high stability. The lifetime investigation of the catalyst, which has been reused many times or used continuously for a long term, suggests that the catalyst has no obvious change in performance, thus reducing the overall process production cost.

The present invention provides a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, comprising an alumina support and 20 to 45%by weight of the catalyst, of silver applied to the support, the catalyst meeting the following limitations (i) to (v): (i) an amount of cesium c(Cs) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 2; (ii) an amount of rhenium c(Re) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 3.0; (iii) an amount of tungsten c(W) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 1.6; (iv) a silicon to alkaline earth metal molar ratio x of not higher than 1.80; (v) c(Cs)c(Re)c(W)4.Math.x0.5.

A catalyst includes a carbon black support and active metal particles. A surface of the carbon black support has a relative atomic percentage of oxygen atoms ranged from 2 atom % to 12 atom %. The active metal particles are distributed on the carbon black support. Each of the active metal particles includes rhodium metal and rhodium oxide. A method for manufacturing the catalyst and a method for hydrogenating an aromatic epoxy compound are also provided herein.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Catalysts for such processes advantageously possess high activity and thereby can achieve significant levels of methane conversion at temperatures below those used conventionally under comparable conditions. These catalysts also exhibit high sulfur tolerance, in addition to reduced rates of carbon (coke) formation, even in the processing (reforming) of heavier (e.g., naphtha boiling-range or jet fuel boiling-range) hydrocarbons. The robustness of the catalyst translates to high operating stability. A representative catalyst comprises 1 wt-% Pt and 1 wt-% Rh as noble metals, on a cerium oxide support.

This disclosure provides embodiments directed to compositions, methods, and processes to produce compounds having the structure: ##STR00001## each of R1-R5 is selected from a hydroxyl group and hydrogen; and R1-R5 include at least one hydroxyl group and at least one hydrogen; and n=0-2. In particular, methods of the disclosure can include reacting a precursor, the precursor containing more oxygen (O) atoms than the compound, with a gas containing hydrogen (H.sub.2) in the presence of a catalyst.

A method for preparing a metal-impregnated, carbon-supported catalyst composition is provided. The method comprises providing a carbon support particle having a smallest dimension of greater than 0.5 millimeters; contacting the carbon support particle with a basic aqueous impregnation solution comprising abase having a pK.sub.b of at most 9 and at least one first metal-containing compound, wherein the first metal-containing compound comprises at least one first metal selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, to form a first metal-impregnated carbon support particle; and drying the first metal-impregnated carbon support particle.

A method for preparing a metal-impregnated, carbon-supported catalyst composition is provided. The method comprises providing a carbon support particle having a smallest dimension of greater than 0.5 millimeters; contacting the carbon support particle with an organic impregnation solution comprising an organic solvent and at least one first metal-containing compound, wherein the first metal-containing compound comprises at least one first metal selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the periodic table, to form a first metal-impregnated carbon support particle; and drying the first metal-impregnated carbon support particle.

Disclosed is a method for producing adipamide, which may include the steps of: (a) reacting glucose, nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce a glucaric acid potassium salt, (b) producing glucamide by reacting the glucaric acid potassium salt, with an acidic solution and removing a potassium ion from the glucaric acid potassium salt, (c) preparing an reaction admixture by adding the glucamide and a catalyst to hydrogen halide and acetic acid, and (d) treating the reaction admixture with hydrogen gas in a reactor thereby producing the adipamide.