The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst for production of methanol from methane, wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite having Al pairs in the skeleton of at least 10 percent, based on the total number of all aluminium atoms in the zeolite, and further comprising a transition metal cation coordinated at beta-cationic positions, selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni, wherein the ratio of the transition metal to Al is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5; and with the proviso that the zeolite is not ZSM-5 and mordenite. The present invention further relates to the method of production of methanol, the catalyst for production of methanol by direct oxidation of methane, and to a method of production thereof.

The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst for production of methanol from methane, wherein the catalyst comprises a zeolite having Al pairs in the skeleton of at least 10 percent, based on the total number of all aluminium atoms in the zeolite, and further comprising a transition metal cation coordinated at beta-cationic positions, selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni, wherein the ratio of the transition metal to Al is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5; and with the proviso that the zeolite is not ZSM-5 and mordenite. The present invention further relates to the method of production of methanol, the catalyst for production of methanol by direct oxidation of methane, and to a method of production thereof.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

Processes for converting an olefin reactant into a diol compound are disclosed, and these processes include the steps of contacting the olefin reactant and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state to reduce at least a portion of the supported chromium catalyst to form a reduced chromium catalyst, and hydrolyzing the reduced chromium catalyst to form a reaction product comprising the diol compound. While being contacted, the olefin reactant and the supported chromium catalyst can be irradiated with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum. Optionally, these processes can further comprise a step of calcining at least a portion of the reduced chromium catalyst to regenerate the supported chromium catalyst.

A process for the co-production of methanol and ammonia is described comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first synthesis gas stream by reacting a first portion of a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam in a steam reformer, (b) forming a second synthesis gas stream in parallel to the first synthesis gas stream by reacting a second portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas and steam in an autothermal reformer, (c) synthesising methanol from a first process gas comprising the first synthesis gas stream, and (d) synthesising ammonia from a second process gas prepared from the second synthesis gas stream, wherein a purge stream containing hydrogen is recovered from the methanol synthesis step (c) and a portion of the purge gas stream is fed to the autothermal reformer and/or the second synthesis gas in step (b).

A process for the co-production of methanol and ammonia is described comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first synthesis gas stream by reacting a first portion of a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam in a steam reformer, (b) forming a second synthesis gas stream in parallel to the first synthesis gas stream by reacting a second portion of the hydrocarbon feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas and steam in an autothermal reformer, (c) synthesising methanol from a first process gas comprising the first synthesis gas stream, and (d) synthesising ammonia from a second process gas prepared from the second synthesis gas stream, wherein a purge stream containing hydrogen is recovered from the methanol synthesis step (c) and a portion of the purge gas stream is fed to the autothermal reformer and/or the second synthesis gas in step (b).

A shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, having a BET surface area in the range of 2 to 20 m2/g and comprising silver and a rhenium promotor deposited on a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support, characterized in that the support has a calcination history of at least 1460° C. The catalyst support has a high surface area and little ethylene oxide isomerization and/or decomposition activity. The invention further relates to a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support having a BET surface area of 1.7 to 10 m2/g, the porous alpha-alumina catalyst support being obtainable by a) preparing a precursor material comprising a transition alumina and/or an alumina hydrate; b) forming the precursor material into shaped bodies; and c) calcining the shaped bodies at a temperature of 1460° C. to 1700° C. to obtain the porous alpha-alumina support. The invention also relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as described above.

A shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, having a BET surface area in the range of 2 to 20 m2/g and comprising silver and a rhenium promotor deposited on a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support, characterized in that the support has a calcination history of at least 1460° C. The catalyst support has a high surface area and little ethylene oxide isomerization and/or decomposition activity. The invention further relates to a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support having a BET surface area of 1.7 to 10 m2/g, the porous alpha-alumina catalyst support being obtainable by a) preparing a precursor material comprising a transition alumina and/or an alumina hydrate; b) forming the precursor material into shaped bodies; and c) calcining the shaped bodies at a temperature of 1460° C. to 1700° C. to obtain the porous alpha-alumina support. The invention also relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as described above.

A process for producing a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support, comprising i) preparing a precursor material comprising, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina having a loose bulk density of at most 600 g/L, a pore volume of at least 0.6 mL/g and a median pore diameter of at least 15 nm; and at most 30 wt.-% of an alumina hydrate; ii) forming the precursor material into shaped bodies; and iii) calcining the shaped bodies to obtain the porous alpha-alumina catalyst support. The catalyst support has a high overall pore volume, thus allowing for impregnation with a high amount of silver, while keeping its surface area sufficiently large so as to provide optimal dispersion of catalytically active species, in particular metal species. The invention further relates to a shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising at least 15 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the catalyst, deposited on a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained in the process described above. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a shaped catalyst body as described above comprising impregnating a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained in the process described above with a silver impregnation solution, preferably under reduced pressure; and optionally subjecting the impregnated porous alumina support to drying; and b) subjecting the impregnated porous alpha-alumina support to a heat treatment; wherein steps a) and b) are optionally repeated. The invention further relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as described above.

A process for producing a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support, comprising i) preparing a precursor material comprising, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina having a loose bulk density of at most 600 g/L, a pore volume of at least 0.6 mL/g and a median pore diameter of at least 15 nm; and at most 30 wt.-% of an alumina hydrate; ii) forming the precursor material into shaped bodies; and iii) calcining the shaped bodies to obtain the porous alpha-alumina catalyst support. The catalyst support has a high overall pore volume, thus allowing for impregnation with a high amount of silver, while keeping its surface area sufficiently large so as to provide optimal dispersion of catalytically active species, in particular metal species. The invention further relates to a shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising at least 15 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the catalyst, deposited on a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained in the process described above. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a shaped catalyst body as described above comprising impregnating a porous alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained in the process described above with a silver impregnation solution, preferably under reduced pressure; and optionally subjecting the impregnated porous alumina support to drying; and b) subjecting the impregnated porous alpha-alumina support to a heat treatment; wherein steps a) and b) are optionally repeated. The invention further relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as described above.