Novel catalysts comprising nickel oxide nanoparticles supported on alumina nanoparticles, methods of their manufacture, heavy oil compositions contacted by these nanocatalysts and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel nanocatalysts are useful, inter alia, in the upgrading of heavy oil fractions or as aids in oil recovery from steam-assisted well reservoirs.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

Processes for producing alcohols from biomass are provided. The processes utilize supercritical methanol to depolymerize biomass with subsequent conversion to a mixture of alcohols. In particular the disclosure relates to continuous processes which produce high yields of alcohols through recycling gases and further employ dual reactor configurations which improve overall alcohol yields. Processes for producing higher ethers and olefins from the so-formed alcohols, through alcohol coupling and subsequent dehydration are also provided. The resulting distillate range ethers and olefins are useful as components in liquid fuels, such as diesel and jet fuel.

The invention is directed to a CO to CO.sub.2 combustion promoter comprising microsphere sized porous silica and/or alumina comprising particles further comprising on or more Group VIII noble metals wherein the noble metal is distributed in the particle as an eggshell such that a higher content of noble metal is present in the outer region of the particle as compared to the content of noble metal in the center of the particle.

The invention is directed to a CO to CO.sub.2 combustion promoter comprising microsphere sized porous silica and/or alumina comprising particles further comprising on or more Group VIII noble metals wherein the noble metal is distributed in the particle as an eggshell such that a higher content of noble metal is present in the outer region of the particle as compared to the content of noble metal in the center of the particle.

A process for processing carbonaceous material, the process comprising: delivering a carbonaceous material to a reactor; delivering a catalyst to the reactor; processing the carbonaceous material at a relatively low temperature within the reactor to decompose the carbonaceous material to base compounds.

The present disclosure provides processes to convert paraffins to corresponding olefins and or heavier hydrocarbons. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing, at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 500° C., a hydrocarbon feed comprising paraffins to a first metal oxide comprising one or more group 1 to group 17 metal and one or more oxygen. The process includes obtaining a product mixture comprising one or more C3-C50 cyclic olefins, one or more C2-C50 acyclic olefins, one or more C5-C200 hydrocarbons, such as one or more C5-C100 hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof. In at least one embodiment, the product mixture is substantially free of H2 (e.g., <500 ppm). The introducing can reduce the first metal oxide to form a second metal oxide. Processes may include introducing the second metal oxide to an oxidizing agent to form the first metal oxide.

The present disclosure provides processes to convert paraffins to corresponding olefins and or heavier hydrocarbons. In at least one embodiment, a process includes introducing, at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 500° C., a hydrocarbon feed comprising paraffins to a first metal oxide comprising one or more group 1 to group 17 metal and one or more oxygen. The process includes obtaining a product mixture comprising one or more C3-C50 cyclic olefins, one or more C2-C50 acyclic olefins, one or more C5-C200 hydrocarbons, such as one or more C5-C100 hydrocarbons, or a mixture thereof. In at least one embodiment, the product mixture is substantially free of H2 (e.g., <500 ppm). The introducing can reduce the first metal oxide to form a second metal oxide. Processes may include introducing the second metal oxide to an oxidizing agent to form the first metal oxide.

The present invention relates to a catalyst for producing light olefins from C4-C7 hydrocarbons from catalytic cracking reaction and the production process of light olefins from said catalyst, wherein said catalyst has core-shell structure comprising a zeolite core with mole ratio of silicon to aluminium (Si/Al) between 2 to 250 and layered double hydroxide shell (LDH). The catalyst according to the invention provides high percent conversion of substrate to products and high selectivity to light olefins product.

The present invention relates to a catalyst for producing light olefins from C4-C7 hydrocarbons from catalytic cracking reaction and the production process of light olefins from said catalyst, wherein said catalyst has core-shell structure comprising a zeolite core with mole ratio of silicon to aluminium (Si/Al) between 2 to 250 and layered double hydroxide shell (LDH). The catalyst according to the invention provides high percent conversion of substrate to products and high selectivity to light olefins product.