Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

A one pot synthesis of a mixed macrocycle of resorcinol and pyrogallol is disclosed using an acidic catalyst by conventional as well as by microwave assisted methods. Compared with traditional synthesis, the microwave mediated tactic provides a simple, greener route and affords higher compound yields in a shorter period. Moreover, the catalyst can be efficiently reused without any loss in activity.

Provided is a method of producing a porous molded body, the method including: the step of obtaining a molded body by molding a raw material that contains from 1 part by mass to 100 parts by mass of a bicarbonate compound (A) represented by AHCO.sub.3 (wherein, A represents Na or K) and from 0 parts by mass to 99 parts by mass of a compound (B) represented by B.sub.nX (wherein, B represents Na or K; X represents CO.sub.3, SO.sub.4, SiO.sub.3, F, Cl, or Br; and n represents an integer of 1 or 2 as determined by the valence of X) (provided that a total amount of (A) and (B) is 100 parts by mass); and the step of obtaining a porous molded body by performing a heat treatment of the molded body in a temperature range of from 100° C. to 500° C. and an atmosphere that contains water vapor in an amount of from 1.0 g/m.sup.3 to 750,000 g/m.sup.3 and thereby thermally decomposing not less than 90% by mass of the bicarbonate compound (A).

The invention relates to a catalyst for a process for removing mercaptans and optionally disulfides (if present) from hydrocarbon streams, in particular C4 streams, in the presence of higher dienes, in particular C5 dienes. At the same time, the invention also relates to a process for removing mercaptans and disulfides (if present) from hydrocarbon streams, in particular C4 streams, in one embodiment in the presence of 1-butene, by thioetherification of the mercaptans with polyunsaturated hydrocarbons, wherein the process is carried out in a reactor with addition of hydrogen in the presence of higher dienes, in particular C.sub.5 dienes.

High activity metal nanoparticle catalysts, such as Pd or Pt nanoparticle catalyst, are provided. Adsorption of metal precursors such as Pd or Pt precursors onto carbon based materials such as graphene followed by solventless (or low-solvent) microwave irradiation at ambient conditions results in the formation of the catalysts in which metal nanoparticles are supported on i) the surface of the carbon based materials and ii) in/on/within defects/holes in the carbon based materials.

A catalyst support comprising at least 95% silicon carbide, having surface areas of ≤10 m.sup.2/g and pore volumes of ≤1 cc/g. A method of producing a catalyst support, the method including mixing SiC particles of 0.1-20 microns, SiO.sub.2 and carbonaceous materials to form an extrusion, under inert atmospheres, heating the extrusion at temperatures of greater than 1400° C., and removing residual carbon from the heated support under temperatures below 1000° C. A catalyst on a carrier, comprising a carrier support having at least about 95% SiC, with a silver solution impregnated thereon comprising silver oxide, ethylenediamine, oxalic acid, monoethanolamine and cesium hydroxide. A process for oxidation reactions (e.g., for the production of ethylene oxide, or oxidation reactions using propane or methane), or for endothermic reactions (e.g., dehydrogenation of paraffins, of ethyl benzene, or cracking and hydrocracking hydrocarbons).

The present disclosure relates to a method for non-oxidative direct conversion of methane. Specifically, in the method, a methane/hydrogen gas is introduced into an Inconel 600 reactor at a superficial velocity of 100 to 200 cm.Math.min.sup.−1 and a catalyst is not externally introduced into the reactor. Under the conditions, a non-oxidative direct methane conversion reaction is performed in the Inconel 600 reactor. The method maximizes the reaction rate, minimizes coke formation, and increases the yields of C.sub.2 hydrocarbon compounds and aromatic compounds.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for converting ethanol to para-xylene. The method also provides a pathway to produce terephthalic acid from biomass-based feedstocks. In some embodiments, the disclosed method produces p-xylene with high selectivity over other aromatics typically produced in the conversion of ethanol to xylenes, such as m-xylene, ethyl benzene, benzene, toluene, and the like. And, in some embodiments, the method facilitates the ability to use ortho/para mixtures of methylbenzyaldehyde for preparing ortho/para xylene product mixtures that are amendable to fractionation to separate the para- and ortho-xylene products thereby providing a pure feedstock of para-xylene that can be used to form terephthalic anhydride and a pure feedstock of ortho-xylene that can be used for other purposes, such as phthalic anhydride.

Provided is a method of producing a porous molded body, the method including: the step of obtaining a molded body by molding a raw material that contains from 1 part by mass to 100 parts by mass of a bicarbonate compound (A) represented by AHCO.sub.3 (wherein, A represents Na or K) and from 0 parts by mass to 99 parts by mass of a compound (B) represented by B.sub.nX (wherein, B represents Na or K; X represents CO.sub.3, SO.sub.4, SiO.sub.3, F, Cl, or Br; and n represents an integer of 1 or 2 as determined by the valence of X) (provided that a total amount of (A) and (B) is 100 parts by mass); and the step of obtaining a porous molded body by performing a heat treatment of the molded body in a temperature range of from 100° C. to 500° C. and an atmosphere that contains water vapor in an amount of from 1.0 g/m.sup.3 to 750,000 g/m.sup.3 and thereby thermally decomposing not less than 90% by mass of the bicarbonate compound (A).

Disclosed are a nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes preparing nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon, mixing the nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon with water, adjusting a pH value of the mixed solution to be alkaline, mixing the mixed solution with a Pd metal precursor aqueous solution, and then adding a reducing agent to obtain the nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst after reduction. The prepared nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst includes a nitrogen-doped porous carbon material carrier with hierarchical pores and Pd metal nanoparticles loaded in the hierarchical pores of the carrier. The Pd metal nanoparticles have a size of 2˜14 nm and a regular polyhedron shape. The nitrogen-doped hierarchical-porous carbon-loaded nano-Pd catalyst has excellent catalytic performance, especially has ultra-high conversion rate, selectivity and cycle stability in the selective hydrogenation reaction of unsaturated ketones, and is a key to open a new synthetic route of vitamin E.